The Crescent Mountain Fire burned one-third of the Twisp River watershed last summer, increasing risks of erosion, flooding and debris flow in numerous steep drainages, particularly the Scaffold Creek, War Creek, Reynolds Creek and Williams Creek drainages.
Crescent Mountain Fire
Crescent Mountain Fire landscape shows battle scars
From a vantage point on top of Buttermilk Butte, the remnants of the Crescent Mountain Fire could be seen last week sending up scattered plumes of white smoke as the fire smolders and creeps along forested slopes and in drainages near the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness area to the south.
Repair work continues as McLeod, Crescent fires contained
Smoke is still lingering in the lower valley and creating periods of unhealthy air, but other evidence of the wildfires that stole much of the Methow Valley’s summer is fading away.
The huge incident command post at the Blues Ranch near Winthrop, which supported about 1,300 people and firefighting equipment during the peak of wildfires a few weeks ago, has been packed up and hauled away.
Fire crews working on ‘suppression repairs’ in burned areas
Crews using heavy equipment are focusing on repairing more than 160 miles of fire lines created in the fight to keep the Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires from advancing on residential areas. Called “suppression repair,” the effort involves restoring land that has been disrupted by heavy …
Twisp River Blues
By JoAnn Metzler I wish that this fire was done, It hasn’t been very much fun. The smoke and the ash and the haze make for long indoor days. Yellow shirts scope out our place, declare it defensible space. We stare out the windows and grieve, but it’s just too hard to leave. Gotta run […]
Resources scaled back for Crescent Mountain, McLeod fires
Firefighters make good progress, weather cooperates The Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires were moving into demobilization mode early this week, although fire crews were continuing to strengthen fire lines and aircraft were providing water and retardant drops in a few active parts of the fires. Only a week ago, the fires were considered the top […]
More resources devoted to top-priority valley fires
The Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires became the top priority wildfires in the nation on Sunday (Sept. 2), which meant more crews and equipment have become available to fight the fires.
The priority status was due in part to a decrease in fires in other parts of the nation, said Brandon Cichowski, …
Information, please
Residents hungry for fire-related news look to a variety of social media sources By Marcy Stamper Posts like these pepper the Crescent Mountain Fire Facebook page: Really appreciate the communication. It’s not as scary when we know what’s going on. Whether it’s good news or not, I feel better understanding exactly where we stand. Thanks […]
Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires both grew on Thursday (Aug. 16)
By Marcy Stamper A spot fire from the Crescent Mountain Fire escaped the fire line along War Creek – evading even a sprinkler system – and got into dead timber, burning higher on the ridge, producing a huge plume of smoke on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 16). Because the new growth moves the fire further down […]
Fierce weather whips valley fires
Fire crews, who already had their hands full with the Crescent Mountain Fire that’s burned 26 1/2 square miles in the upper Twisp River drainage, were challenged by powerful weather on Saturday (Aug. 11). The day began with an early-morning lightning storm that ignited 17 new …
