And now, worse Before this week, the Carlton Complex Fire of 2014 was the largest in Washington state history. The brutal destruction of landscape and structures, the painful impact on hundreds of lives, made it not just big but also an enduring nightmare. But the much smaller Twisp River Fire — officially now Branch 3 of the […]
Zbyszewski
The return of high anxiety
In a community primed for anxiety, the thick blanket of smoke that settled over the valley early this week may have been a blessing of sorts. It hid smoke plumes from two days of burnouts conducted to contain the Twisp River Fire. “It was so smoky already that no one saw the smoke columns. It really kept the anxiety level down,” said Mike Tombolato, operations manager for the Twisp River Fire.
His own path
Tom Zbyszewski accomplished much in a short life, but will be most remembered for his engaging personality Edited on 8/29 to add contact information to suggestions for memorial contributions. By Don Nelson Richard “Ski” and Jennifer Zbyszewski knew early on that there was something special about their son Tom. At Little Star Montessori School in […]
Forest Service releases information about firefighter deaths
The engine in which three firefighters died in the Twisp River Fire was found on a hillside about 40 feet below Woods Canyon Road, according to investigators for the U.S. Forest Service. When reached by emergency responders on Wednesday (Aug. 19), the engine was upright and had been burned over, with the three deceased firefighters inside.
Thomas Nelson Zbyszewski
1994–2015
Thomas Nelson Zbyszewski — Tom — died tragically in the Twisp River Fire while attempting to save homes from a wildfire on Aug.19, 2015. Tom was a local boy born and raised in the Methow Valley. He was one month shy of his 21st birthday. Tom loved academics. He was an exceptional student and had close […]
Trial by fire
By Ann McCreary
“It was a huge surprise” to find himself working to protect the homes of friends and high school classmates, says rookie firefighter Milo Holston. “I expected to spend most of my time out of the valley or out of the state,” said Holston, a Winthrop resident who graduated this year from Liberty Bell High School.
Spring avalanches block popular hiking, biking trails
By Ann McCreary
Spring avalanches have dumped debris across sections of two popular hiking and mountain biking trails in the North Cascades — the Cutthroat and West Fork …
Copper drilling proposal gets a grilling at public meeting
By Ann McCreary
In his five years as Methow Valley District Ranger, Mike Liu said he has not seen an issue that has generated as much interest as the proposed exploratory drilling …
USFS sets meeting to discuss Flagg Mountain drilling proposal
The U.S. Forest Service will host a meeting on Monday (May 19) at the Winthrop Barn to provide information about a proposed minerals exploration project on Flagg Mountain. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Methow Valley District Ranger Michael Liu said the meeting will not be a public hearing but rather an opportunity for the […]
Drilling concerns aired
By Ann McCreary
Community members and representatives of environmental groups met Monday (April 28) with U.S. Forest Service officials to discuss concerns about exploratory drilling for copper proposed to take place as early as August near Flagg Mountain in Mazama. Concerns included potential impacts on wildlife and water, noise levels that might …
