N. Cascades Hwy Closed

[Jake]

Anybody know what the deal is? Apparently it is closed between Newhalem and Silve Star Gate due a fire.

[klenke]

Really? This might screw up my weekend plans. Arrrrgggh!

If I wet down my car before hand do you think they'd let me through?

[klenke]

It's true. From the NOCA website:

 

Update on Davis Fire East of Diablo, Washington

 

Prepared August 3, 2005

 

"A 7-acre fire near milepost 125 of the North Cascades Highway in Ross Lake National Recreation Area has led to an intermittent closure of the road. This is to allow 2 helicopters to safely do water drops near the highway. Please note that this is a change from a report earlier today that the highway had been closed. Traffic is being allowed through as the firefighting operations permit.

 

National Park Service firefighters and 7 smokejumpers from the North Cascades Smokejumper Base near Winthrop are at the fire. A plane is en route from the tanker base at Moses Lake to drop retardant.

 

About 1:30 pm this afternoon the fire was reported burning beneath the large Seattle City Light power line at the base of Davis Peak and immediately north of the North Cascades Highway. At 3:30 an estimated 6 to 7 acres were involved. The location is about 1 ¾ miles west of the community of Diablo near SR 20 milepost 125. Seattle City Light de-energized the line to permit water drops by helicopter. The National Park Service sent firefighters to the scene and requested smoke jumpers and retardant drops.

 

The fire was moving up the slope of Davis Peak, and smoke spread through the valley and up to Diablo Lake. A National Park Service volunteer who was on Diablo Lake made the initial report."

 

How intermittent is intermittent?

[Jake]

Man I hope they put this thing out quick. I was planning on going S. of the Hwy, so I hope that isn't a prob, though the Pickets were in the back of my mind.

 

Thanks Klenke.

Edited August 4, 2005 by Jake

[John Frieh]

Man I hope they put this thing out quick.

 

But hopefully after all the devil's club and slide alder on the way into Davis and Colonial burns

[Alpinfox]

 

7 Acres!!!

 

HOLY SHIT! GRAB A GARDEN HOSE!

[goatboy]

From NPS Morning Report:

 

Latest Narrative:

An NPS volunteer on Diablo Lake reported the Davis Fire about 1:30 on the afternoon of August 3rd burning under powerlines just off the North Cascades Highway and moving up the steep slope of Davis Peak. National Park Service firefighters went to the scene and were joined by 7 smokejumpers from the base near Winthrop, WA. Seattle City Light de-energized the powerline. Two helicopters were borrowed from the Shady Fire in adjacent North delivered by a plane from the base in Moses Lake, WA.

[archenemy]

Have they put it out yet?

[Alpinfox]

 

I'm sure they just mistook a certain cc.comer's doobie for a forest fire. Nothing to be alarmed about. Please send cheetos.

 

[char]

Crew from my forest got dispatched there this afternoon so it will probably be going for awhile.

 

As for the closures: they have to close the road when a chopper with a bucket flys over (we don't want to have the pilot pickle the bucket on some gumby's head), at the most you might wait one fule cycle for the chopper (1 hour or so depending).

[olyclimber]

thanks for the info.

[klenke]

I think it goes without saying that this would only be during daylight hours. So if you travel through there during night or twilight you won't be delayed by the heli.

[Cobra_Commander]

you won't get scuba divers dumped on your head accidently either

[goatboy]

Latest Narrative:

Two drops of fire retardant along with water delivered by a light and a medium helicopter and the work of NPS firefighters together with U.S. Forest Service wildland engines and a 12-person crew largely knocked the fire down late yesterday afternoon. Water drops, line building, and use of hoses continues today. The North Cascades Highway is open (alternating single lane).

[klenke]

Drove through there last night and then late this afternoon. The fire is/was in a small area right under the power lines about a half-mile east of the Gorge Falls touron area.

 

On Friday twilight we didn't even see any ember glow so didn't know where it was located. No fire vehicles anywhere.

 

This afternoon on the way back we saw many fire vehicles along the side of the road so they were evidently "mopping up" the scene. There was no smoke so it must be out...or 99% out. We could see burned little trees about 100 feet up from the highway.