By Kaitlin Bain
Yakima Herald-Republic
Fire crews spent Monday continuing to monitor the 1,540-acre Norse Peak Fire, 11 miles west of Cliffdell, which is now 6 percent contained.
More than 260 firefighters will work to contain it within the wilderness area and determine which structures are threatened, according to the U.S. incident information system. Crews estimate the lightning-caused fire won’t be contained until Oct. 1.
Fire crews also are continuing work to contain the 638-acre Jolly Mountain Fire, which is 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum.
Crews are thinning the area, taking out bigger trees and clearing brush along the roads, said fire public information officer Al Koss.
“We don’t have any staff directly on the fire because it’s such steep and rugged country,” he said.
Crews also have assessed buildings in the area and created a 1,500-page structure protection plan to leave with the local fire department.
“It looks at the homes and determines what thinning needs to be done and where residents need to move flammable materials,” Koss said.
Closures for both fires include:
Roads: State Route 410 remains closed from Chinook Pass to Hell’s Crossing. The road likely won’t open for several days as the corridor is cleared of snags and protected from the fire. Others include Forest Roads 4315, 4330-240, 4330-137, 4330-138, 4330-128, 4330-139, 4330-140 and 4305 beginning at the western edge of T21N R14E Sec. 24.
Campgrounds and residences: The Pleasant Valley, Lodgepole and Salmon Cove Group Site campgrounds remain closed. Union Creek and Pleasant Valley are under a level 3 or “go” evacuation notification. Bumping Lake Marina campgrounds and residences, Goose Prarie residences and Camp Fife are under a Level 1 evacuation notice or “be ready” to leave.
Trails: Teanaway drainage trails Boulder Deroux (#1392), DeRoux Spur (#1392.1), Johnson Medra (#1383), Way Creek (#1235), Jungle Creek (#1383.1), West Fork (#1353), Middle Fork (#1393) and Yellow Hill (#1222). In the Cle Elum Valley they are: Corral Creek (#1340.1), Sasse Mtn. (#1340), Howson Creek (#1349), Jolly Mtn. (#1307, access from Cayuse CG), Paris Creek (#1393) and Boulder Creek (#1392) and Little Sac (#1325).
