FOREST FIRE BURNS NOT FAR FROM INDEX September 01, 2009
Map shows where Deer Creek Flats forest fire is in relation to Index. CLICK TO ENLARGE
(INDEX, WA) -- Fire crews from two districts were battling for a second day Monday a 2.5 to 3 acre forest fire burning on steep terrain about 2 miles Northeast of Index in an area called Deer Creek Flats.
In a story first reported in Washington State at 3:44 p.m. Monday by the Sky Valley Chronicle, fire department personnel from the Index Fire District (#28) as well as firefighters from the State Department of Natural resources responded to the blaze.
Steve Jennison, Northwest Region Fire District Manager for the Washington State Dep’t of Natural Resources told the Chronicle the blaze was in very steep terrain in what is commonly called a "reprod" area, or an area of old logging slash.
The area is reachable only through logging roads that are narrow and the area is quite brushy. Due to limited access to the fire and limited parking in the area Jennison says DNR was asking people to stay out of the area while the fire is being fought.
The blaze, which started sometime Sunday night, was being fought yesterday with a ten person crew hand digging a trail around the fire to contain it as well as two helicopters dumping water on the blaze trying to tamp it down enough to get firefighters into the hot zone to battle it.
As of late yesterday afternoon Jennison said the fire was too dangerous to allow crews to get too close to it due to the difficulty of the terrain.
“Part of the area is so steep the incident commander will not put firefighters on it today (Monday) until the fire is knocked down enough by the helicopters,” added Jennison.
He says it is expected it might take a day or two to have the fire contained. Cause of the fire was unknown and there were no injuries reported as of late Monday.
Jennison says there is a cell tower at the top of the fire and fire crews have put in hoses to protect that infrastructure.
With reporting from correspondent Ed Boress
Have a news tip, news release or community event you’d like to see mentioned in the ALL NEW Sky Valley Chronicle? Please send the info at the contact points shown below.
To send SVC news tips or photos: newstip@skyvalleychronicle.com To send News Releases: newsrelease@skyvalleychronicle.com Phone tips to: 425-791-1471 To send bags full of money: Call. We'll send a limo.
