Owl Mountain fire still active
By Mona Mattei
The Owl Mountain fire just south of the Carson border crossing near Christina Lake doubled in size last week as a result of winds and continues to grow.
The fire, started by lightening on Sept. 10, is moving both north and south as it finds fuel in deep rocky crags and chutes along the mountain. Ten American fire fighting personnel are trying to manage the fire that is now estimated to be 121 acres in size, according to the Colville National Forest services.
A report on the incident information system says crews have completed a contingency fireline above the fire and prepped the area below the fire to limit movement to the east and west. Helicopter water bucket drops, using water from Christina Lake, were marginally effective at limiting the north south spread of the fire.
The steep, rocky, rugged terrain makes it unsafe to allow fire fighters to directly attack the fire where it lies in deep rocks and cliff bands and limits the effectiveness of water drops from the air, the report added.
Fire managers anticipate this fire will continue to have interior burning and smoking until wet weather arrives. No structures are threatened and crews continue to conduct suppression operations as necessary to help ensure the fire stays within the contingency lines. Further action by crews will be to directly attack the fire in places where they can safely access it.
Washington State had no measurable rain in August and just experienced the third driest September on record. The current trend of eastwardly driven winds dries fuels overnight and the land does not have an opportunity to recover from the day’s wind and sun. This means that grasses, brush, and trees can light with even a tiny spark.
If this were a normal season, hunters and recreationalists would be preparing to build warming fires and go out on their dirt bikes…but this is not a normal season. Campfires and any open flames are prohibited on both DNR and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife state-managed lands.
The Southeast Fire Centre in B.C. also reports that the fire rating remains high for many parts of both the Boundary and West Kootenays as drought-like conditions persist across the region and reminds everyone to exercise caution with fires. An open burning ban is in effect in the regions.
Smoke will be highly visible from Highway 395 and Highway 3 in B.C. No road closures are planned, though temporary traffic delays may occur near the fire. For more information, please call (509) 738-7700.
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