Pomas Fire hits two-month milestone in Glacier Peak Wilderness

ENTIAT — The Pomas Fire has reached the two-month mark, burning nearly 3,500 acres in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

The fire, started by lightning strike, was first reported by a hiker on June 13. Firefighters worked quickly within the first few days, deploying smokejumpers and dropping 400,000 gallons of water. However, firefighting officials have said location and fuels complicated efforts. The fire’s area contains dead and downed timber among steep and rugged terrain, inaccessible by road.

Fire officials have maintained they are “actively engaged in a full suppression strategy, minimizing the fire's spread where feasible, and protecting critical values at risk in Holden Village, Lucerne, and the Entiat and Chiwawa River drainages.”

Burning primarily in the upper Entiat River drainage, the Pomas Fire grew from a few hundred acres to over 3,000 in the first month. Since mid-July, the size of the fire has remained under 3,500 acres. 

Due to terrain challenges, recent efforts have been focused on fuel reduction efforts along secondary control lines. As this work is completed, more resources are being released to support increasing fire activity throughout the region. Over the first week of August, personnel assigned to the fire decreased from over 700 to 376 as of Aug. 8.

Area closures remain in effect within the Entiat and Wenatchee River Ranger Districts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. A full list of closed trails, roads and campgrounds can be found on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest website. According to fire officials, the fire currently poses no threat to the Pacific Crest Trail, as it remains 12 air miles away. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire has also been lifted.

A Level 1 Fire Advisory remains in effect for Holden Village, including the Rio Tinto Mine water treatment plant. The advisory does not include Lucerne. 

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media