A month after they first sparked, officials expect the Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf fires to burn until an end-of-season weather event finally extinguishes them.
Both lightning-caused fires started on Labor Day, Sept. 1. The Lower Sugarloaf fire is burning 12 miles northwest of Leavenworth, and the Labor Mountain fire is burning 10 miles north of Cle Elum.
Lower Sugarloaf fire
The Lower Sugarloaf fire has burned more than 64 square miles, about the size of Tacoma, and is 55% contained. There are about 1,374 personnel with 28 crews, 86 engines, 13 helicopters, 26 dozers, and 29 water tenders on the fire.
Ranae Papem, spokesperson for Northwest Team 2, said the containment lines are typically surrounded by 50 to 100 feet of burned ground, which helps prevent the fire from escaping. While there’s always a remote chance flames could cross those lines, she said crews are confident in the work they’ve done.
“When an area is marked black on the map, operations crews are confident it’s secure,” she said. “They can start shifting resources elsewhere, though personnel continue to monitor the area both day and night.”
On Monday, crews at the top of Swakane Creek were continuing to reinforce containment lines, with additional strategic firing operations as weather allows, according to a Facebook update from the incident team.
The structure protection group is still working in Sunnyslope and Nahahum in Chelan County, while aviation resources remain ready to help.
Labor Mountain fire
The Labor Mountain fire has burned just above 61 square miles and is 10% contained. Heather Appelhof, spokesperson for Northwest Team 12, said containment efforts are progressing.
Active fire remains in some areas.
Labor Mountain has about 1,460 personnel, including hotshot crews, hand crews, and heavy equipment operators on the fire.
Crews are holding the primary line in Bear Creek, constructing a secondary line further south, and securing the fireline from Scotty Creek east to Tronsen Ridge, according to an update on Facebook from the incident team.
Helicopters and CL-415 super scooper planes continue targeted water drops, while hotshots clear roads and strengthen lines along Mission Creek Road and the 7104 and 7200 Roads.
Firefighters are also performing suppression repair, installing hose lays, and removing vegetation along Etienne Creek and Hansel Creek.
Evacuations remain in effect in Chelan and Kittitas counties, and Highway 97 Blewett Pass remains closed with no estimated reopening, according to Appelhof.
Forest closures and a temporary flight restriction are in place for firefighter and public safety.
Appelhof said, “What I can say is there’s still a lot of active fire in the Highway 97 corridor … and with that, there’s a lot of smoke … for the public safety. It’s still, um, will be closed until, until further notice.”
Fire officials expect forecast rain this week to help with the fires while remaining alert for lightning.
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