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Throughout the day firefighters on the line take regular weather measurements. Weather fluctuations are forecasted on the Easy and Pioneer fire areas over the next couple days followed by warming and drying later in the week. The field measurements are shared with the incident meteorologist and this local data is used to refine the forecasts for each fire area. Localized weather forecasts, including predicted changes in wind or relative humidity, provide firefighters on the ground with information to help them anticipate changes in fire activity.
Taken on the Easy Fire; Photo credit: Landen Napier
Crews clearing roadside areas of vegetation July 25
The Easy Fire, burning in dense timber in the Methow Valley 17 air miles west of the Mazama community, was sparked by dry lightning storms on the evening of July 17, 2024. Crews responded and immediately reported explosive fire growth and running crown fire into the evening. Crews stayed on the fire overnight but weeks of extreme temperatures, record dry conditions, and dangerous terrain with no road access hampered initial response efforts.
Natural features on the north and south are being used to limit fire spread on the Easy Fire. Fire managers are using a combination of ground crews to put in containment lines and air resources to cool off hotspots with water. Steep drainages and ridgelines limit the ability of air tanker pilots to safely fly the fire area even if retardant were effective in dense timber where typically, little if any retardant reaches the ground.
| Current as of | Mon, 08/12/2024 - 09:38 |
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| Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | North Cascades Hwy 20 Corridor, 17 air miles west of Mazama, WA |
| Incident Commander | Tom Clemo - Incident Commander (IC) Jon Lucas and Stephen Fillmore - Deputy IC Nic Elmquist - IC trainee |
| Incident Description | The Easy Fire is burning in dense timber in the Methow Valley 17 air miles west of the Mazama community. It was sparked by dry lightning storms on the evening of July 17, 2024. |
| Coordinates |
48° 35' .82'' Latitude
-120° 47' .41
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 284 |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,130 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 0% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 9/1/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Grass and Understory) Mature timber litter fuels with abundant snags and heavy down woody material throughout the area. Mid and upper slopes contain abundant sub-alpine fir and transition to grass shrub fuels with scattered trees near ridges. Moss and lichen are present in the more mature trees and snags. |
| Significant Events | Fire Activity: Active, Backing, Uphill Runs, Single Tree Torching Thunderstorms with limited precipitation occurred in the fire area last night. The fire remains on the north side of Highway 20, burning in timber fuels on extremely steep slopes between Mebee Pass and Mount Hardy. Fire activity has moved into the north side of Swamp Creek, with flanking around the base of Mount Hardy. The fire continues to spread downslope, with active flanking to the east across steep slopes. Isolated torching, and falling snags are producing flare-ups. Any torching may generate embers with potential for spotting up to 1⁄4 mile where fuels may be receptive downwind. |
| Planned Actions |
DIV O: Implement strategic plan to protect the Highway 20 corridor, and natural resource values, using indirect tactics. Continue to improve handline from Highway 20 to natural features. Potential to continue burning operations from ridge to main fire and along handline. DIV F: Implement strategic plan to protect the Highway 20 corridor, Forest Service infrastructure, and natural resource values, using indirect tactics. Continue line construction and improvement in preparation for burning operations along control line to Highway 20. Prep Highway 20 for backing fire to keep debris off highway. Evaluate options for direct line construction where topography, fuel type, and fire conditions allow. Potential for aerial ignition from ridgeline to main fire to burn out receptive fuels if conditions and resources allow. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Limited precipitation occurred from thundershowers. Generally warm and dry conditions with breezy northwesterly winds have resulted in moderated fire behavior with isolated torching trees, and flanking surface spread on the east side. The fire has backed to Highway 20 in several areas and remains active. Fire has spread into the Swamp Creek drainage below Mount Hardy, burn remains north of the creek. Heavy fuels will continue to retain heat due to seasonal dryness and serve as ignition sources as warming and drying occurs. Increased smoke production with developed column is possible. The fire has backed to Highway 20 on the western portion and continues to back toward the highway on the eastern flank. 24 hours: Continued chance of precipitation and thunderstorms with generally cooler and moister conditions will produce moderated fire behavior that may include isolated torching with uphill spread toward Mount Hardy. Backing and flanking spread on north side of Swamp Creek. Continued spreading surface fire with backing and flanking across the area toward Highway 20.. 48 hours: Slight chance of rain showers with continued warm conditions will support moderated surface fire spread. Expect continued backing, flanking and isolated torching on the eastern portion of the fire. Continued up drainage fire spread on the north side of Swamp Creek below Mount Hardy. Heavy fuels remain dry and will promote areas of fire spread in unburned interior fuels. Low canopy base heights along with pockets of active surface fire are likely to produce isolated torching. Additional areas likely to have backed to Highway 20 with flare-ups. 72 hours: Warm temperature, and higher relative humidity will continue to moderate fire behavior. Isolated areas of activity may produce surface fire spread with backing and flanking. Isolated interior torching possible where sufficient surface fuels are present. Fire spread on the north side Swamp Creek through flanking, and occasional up slope runs. Anticipated after 72 hours: Likely return to seasonal normal weather. Continued partly cloudy sky with cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity. Fire behavior will be determined by amount of precipitation from previous days. Expect limited surface fire spread under dense timber canopy with areas of flanking and backing. Isolated interior torching possible where sufficient surface fuels are present. |
| Remarks |
The Pioneer fire is currently managing this fire and the Flat Creek fire.
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| Weather Concerns | Today: A pattern change was underway Sunday as an area of low pressure approached from the northwest. The North Cascades remained east of the low in the warm and unstable air mass. This resulted in widely scattered cumulus buildups with afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Winds were steady from the northwest at 4 to 9 mph with gusts of 15 mph in the afternoon and locally stronger gusts to 25 mph near showers and storms. Humidity values dipped near 35% in the afternoon. Monday and Tuesday: |
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