The remote automated weather station on Lone Mountain measured 2/3 of an inch of rain last night and Stehekin received about a half inch. Firefighters call that a ‘wetting rain’, and it goes a long way toward dampening a fire’s spread. But they also know that the fire isn’t out, and that warmer weather predicted later in the week will likely bring flames back to life inside the Lone Mountain Fire.
The Lone Mountain Fire has burned about 2,770 acres, but firefighters have been able to keep it away from Stehekin and out of the War Creek drainage of the Twisp River.
A new incident commander, Michael Vasquez from the Los Padres National Forest, has assumed leadership of the 42 people who are assigned to the Lone Mountain Fire. Only one helicopter, operating out of the North Cascades Smokejumper Base near Winthrop, is supporting the Lone Mountain firefighters today.
The Lone Mountain Fire sits between about 3,500 and 7,000 feet elevation in a mountain bowl. It started on July 14 and grew quickly, but growth has been minimal in the last couple weeks. The most fire activity is on the western side of the Lone Mountain Fire, under McAlester Mountain, and in Rennie Creek on the fire’s northern boundary.
Firefighters are managing the Lone Mountain Fire to keep it in the high mountains until the fire season ends. Smoke can be expected from the area, increasing and decreasing with the weather and with firefighter’s work to keep the lightning-caused fire within the agreed-on control points. Historically, autumn rains have arrived about October 15.
Contact Lone Fire Information in Winthrop: 509–997-0857
