Crews still fighting Flick Creek fire

STEHEKIN, Wash. – The battle against a wildfire threatening this remote lakeside town continued Tuesday, as firefighters cut trees and vegetation to slow the fire’s growth.

Blue skies and light winds greeted fire crews Tuesday at the north end of Lake Chelan in mountainous north-central Washington, where an estimated 60 residents have been watching the Flick Creek fire burn nearby for nearly seven weeks.

Already, the fire has blackened more than 11 square miles, to within yards of a National Park Service visitor center, a post office and several other buildings. Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation of the boat landing and about 25 homes, largely summer rentals, prompting 100 tourists to leave.

However, most residents of the community, which is reachable only by boat or float plane, refused to leave despite warnings that they, too, may be forced to flee if the fire grows.

Regular ferry service to Stehekin has been canceled.

About 20 firefighters battled the blaze Tuesday, cutting trees and vegetation near the road, carefully dodging electricity lines with the aid of power crews. Still more firefighting resources were expected to arrive during the day, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Mick Mueller.

Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum also met with Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday to alert her to the situation and request additional resources. Gregoire visited Stehekin days after the fire was started July 26 by a campfire.

Other fires

Fire crews continued to build fire lines around the Polallie fire in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, about 15 miles northwest of Cle Elum in Washington’s central Cascade Mountains. The fire has burned 905 acres, and was 17 percent contained.

Farther north, the Tripod complex continued to creep toward the Canadian border less than one mile away. The state’s largest fire, the blaze has blackened an estimated 270 square miles, or 172,520 acres. The fire was 65 percent contained.

Residents in the North Cascades community of Mazama remained on notice they may have to evacuate if the Cedar Creek fire grows. The fire, started by lightning, has burned 1,578 acres southwest of Mazama but was 40 percent contained Tuesday.

At the Columbia complex in southeastern Washington near Dayton, fire managers reopened part of one road to allow access to an estimated 70 seasonal cabins. Crews continued to burn vegetation not yet consumed by the blaze to slow its growth.