Lightning strikes during two storms last week sparked several fires around the valley, including a fire that burned two outbuildings Sunday (Aug. 4) at Sunny Pine Farm on Twisp River Road.
Lighting struck trees on the property that caught fire, which then spread to two nearby outbuildings, destroying one of them, said Okanogan County District 6 Chief Don Waller. Firefighters with the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service also responded to the fire, which was reported at 2:21 p.m.
Lighting strikes during a storm July 31 ignited several fires in the Methow Valley. The Forest Service responded to fires in Benson Creek, Libby Creek, Eightmile Creek, and near Davis Lake. Forest Service officials said all the fires were out or under control as of Tuesday (Aug. 6).
There were no campfire restrictions in the Methow Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest as the week began, but the Forest Service planned to reassess conditions Thursday (Aug. 8) to determine if restrictions are needed, said spokesperson Robin DiMario.
“We’re encouraging everyone to be cautious and not have campfires,” said DiMario.
A statewide burn ban is in effect on all Department of Natural Resources lands through Sept. 30. The ban applies to all forestlands in Washington, except federal lands, and prohibits campfires in all state, local and private campgrounds. Okanogan County has also declared a burn ban on all county lands.
