A newly released report on the Twisp River Fire of 2015 doesn’t isolate any single cause of the deadly entrapment, but concludes that several factors contributed to the tragedy.
Those include a firefighting culture that …
2015 local area wildfires
Okanogan Long Term Recovery Group seeks volunteers for Make a Difference Day
The Okanogan County Long Term Recovery (OCLTRG) is seeking local volunteers for Make A Difference Day on Oct. 22. Make A Difference Day is one of the largest annual days of service nationwide. Volunteers from around the nation come together with a common mission of improving the lives of others. This goal of this one-day […]
Second phase of post-fire rebuilding in full swing
A $275,000 contribution from an anonymous donor who saw TV news reports about the devastation of two summers of wildfires in Okanogan County was the windfall the county’s recovery group needed to start construction on all 15 homes in its second phase of rebuilding.
The donor had made a smaller contribution in the past but …
Tommy’s Bench
A cozy friendship bench, its two seats angled toward each other to encourage conversation, was unveiled at the elementary school concert assembly on Thursday (June 2).
The bench, a collaborative project between Methow Valley Elementary School fifth-graders and …
DNR: Twisp River Fire caused by tree contact with powerline
An investigation into the cause of the Twisp River Fire has concluded that the August 2015 fire ignited when small tree branches, blown by wind, rubbed against a powerline conductor.
“The wildfire was determined to be caused by the branches of a water birch tree, being a capable fuel that would sustain combustion, coming in contact with and chafing an uninsulated …
Warm weather turns streams loose, flooding roads and property
A spate of warm weather has been causing streams to overflow their banks and carve new channels, making some roads impassable and flooding private property around the valley.
Some driveways, where people say they haven’t seen water for decades — if ever — have turned into ponds. Some of the runoff appears to be connected with wildfires …
New culvert diverts water under Highway 153
A new, larger culvert that carries water and runoff under Highway 153 about 1 mile south of Black Canyon was installed last Friday (March 11) by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The new culvert was able to handle the large volume of water that was still cascading down the hillside this past weekend. […]
Mudslides near Black Canyon close Highway 153
A major slide of mud and rocks about 1 mile south of Black Canyon closed state Highway 153 early Sunday (March 6) after heavy rain fell overnight. Crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) were on scene Sunday morning clearing debris and water from the roadway at three sites.
The most serious slide was about 1 mile south of Black Canyon, where a culvert became plugged and …
Mudslides near Black Canyon close Highway 153
WSDOT crews at scene; working to install temporary culvert By Marcy Stamper A major slide of mud and rocks about 1 mile south of Black Canyon closed state Highway 153 early Sunday (March 6) after heavy rain fell overnight. Crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) were on scene Sunday morning clearing debris […]
Environmental group sues to stop logging in Loup Loup watershed
An environmental organization has appealed the state’s plans to log 1,200 acres of timber that burned in summer 2015 in the Loup Loup watershed because they say that clearing forests with heavy machinery — particularly after a fire — poses serious risks of erosion.
“Research has shown this type of logging dramatically boosts soil erosion, crushes …
