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[pct-l] Stehekin Shady Wildfire



North Cascades National Park News Release

August 3, 2005 at 8:00 am
For Immediate Release
Timothy Manns 360 856-5700 ext.365

Update on the Shady Fire in North Cascades National Park

On Wednesday morning, August 3, the Shady Fire in North Cascades National
Park is demonstrating low to moderate fire behavior. The fire area did not
increase overnight. Logs and other fuels within the fire perimeter are
smoldering and occasionally flaming up. There has been no torching of trees
or spotting into unburned areas. The 109 acres affected by the fire include
103 acres bounded on the west by the Stehekin Valley Road and a 6 acre spot
to the southeast near McGregor Creek.
Fire managers now estimate that the fire is 65% contained. A control line
has been established around the larger segment of the fire, which is lower
in elevation and on flatter terrain. The 6 acre segment is in a very steep
area, where rolling debris poses a problem. Ten to fifteen smoke jumpers
will be working on this smaller segment today, establishing line and using
hoses to apply water from 72 gallon water pillows delivered by helicopter.
The large Kamax helicopter which arrived yesterday will be supporting them
with water drops. One small and one medium helicopter will continue to
deliver water and support the operation as during the last few days.
Burning in Douglas-fir and Ponderosa Pine forest, brush, and grass, the
Shady Fire is near the Stehekin River and the Pacific Crest Trail about 12
miles northwest of Stehekin Landing on Lake Chelan. The nearest private
property lies about 2 miles to the east southeast in the lower Stehekin
Valley. Temperatures in the 90's and humidity in the low teens are expected
today and for the rest of the week.
Eighteen smoke jumpers, 8 National Park Service firefighters from Stehekin,
and 3 twenty-person crews, for a total of 86 people, are on the fire. A "hot
shot" crew of 20 highly experienced firefighters will arrive by boat at
Stehekin Landing late this morning and should be at the fire in the early
afternoon. The firefighters will continue treating hot areas, scratching
fire line and using water gravity-fed from 72 gallon water pillows placed
upslope by helicopters. The firefighters are being supported by personnel in
Stehekin and at the National Park Service's Marblemount facilities.
- more -
The main segment of the fire area extends from near Buzzard Creek on the
south to and across Canim Creek on the north. The Stehekin River and
Stehekin Valley Road bound the fire area on the west. To the east it extends
across the Old Wagon Road Trail (Pacific Crest Trail). Shady Camp, a small
camp for backpackers, is a bit further north along the Stehekin Valley Road.
This portion of the road has not been accessible to vehicles since the flood
of October 2003.
The Old Wagon Road Trail, coinciding with the Pacific Crest Trail in the
fire area, is now closed from near Bridge Creek Camp to near Carwash Falls,
a total of about 2 ? miles. The closest alternative for hikers is to follow
the Stehekin Valley Road, which parallels the Old Wagon Road Trail. Walking
this stretch of severely flood-damaged road involves some scrambling over
logs and across steep rock faces in several places. As an alternative,
hikers are advised to reroute via the lower Stehekin Valley Road to the
Rainbow Creek and McAlester Trails.
The Shady Fire is believed to be human-caused, although this has not been
confirmed. The National Park Service's goal with this fire is to stop any
spread toward the lower Stehekin Valley, where there are homes and other
structures, and to safely and quickly put the fire out. The fire is in an
area where fire fighters must keep careful watch for falling trees and
rolling rocks, but there are good safety zones and, as always, a very high
priority placed on working safely. There have been no injuries.
- NPS


 Message: 19
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 09:47:45 -0700
From: "Isabella" <isabella@bendnet.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Stehekin Shady Wildfire
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <012f01c5984b$13a35e90$dda4b242@your4f1261a8e5>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

Does anyone have the latest on the Shady Wildfire 12 miles NW of Stehekin?
Thanks, Dirty Bird

------------------------------


http://www.engel.org/ihwm  (Courtesy of my friend Glenn Engel)

email  --- mike_aken@hotmail.com

I hike alone sometimes.Its during these            Mike Aken
solo hikes that the number of  arrogant             N7OUJ
and ignorant people I have  to deal        
with is reduced to one.                    
                         Jack Hampson