Single Publication

Easy Fire Update for July 23, 2024 

 Incident Commander Lonnie Click  

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 3   

(541) 861-5808, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov  

Quick Facts 
Size: 354 acres 
Start Date: July 17, 2024 
Location: 17 miles west of Mazama, WA 
Containment: 0% 
Personnel Assigned: 30 
Cause: Lightning 
Resources Assigned:  1 crew, 3 helicopters, 3 engines

CURRENT SITUATION: Easy Fire is burning in large dense timber with abundant dead trees and extensive ground vegetation. The terrain is extremely steep. Continued hot, dry, and unstable weather conditions on Monday led to very active fire behavior including torching, or fire climbing from the ground to the tops of trees. Short range spotting, where embers are cast out in front of the fire, also contributed to fire spread.  Easy Fire extends over Mt. Hardy, threatening the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), while also moving down slope toward State Route 20 (SR 20) North Cascades Highway.

While steep slopes contribute to fire suppression challenges, crews are utilizing full suppression tactics that have the highest likelihood for success while mitigating risks to firefighters and the public. 

Rolling rock, falling trees, and active fire near the highway necessitates the closure on SR 20 to protect the public from hazards associated with fire behavior and suppression tactics. Crews are felling dead trees between the active fire edge and State Route 20 to help limit fire spread toward the highway.

Helicopters assisted firefighters on Monday with water bucket drops to slow the spread of Easy Fire. Crews are actively establishing control lines and installing sprinkler systems. 

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Extreme terrain prevents direct attack on the Easy Fire. Firefighters will continue identifying and improving indirect firelines that take advantage of natural barriers such as avalanche chutes and historical burn scars. Ground crews will continue felling dead trees above and parallel State Route 20 to reduce hazards and vegetation that serves as fuel for the fire. Firefighters are bolstering control lines and continuing water bucket drops. Additionally, crews may start structure protection work for the historic Mebee Lookout Tower. 

WEATHER: A westside marine layer brought higher humidity to the fire area overnight.  There is dry air immediately above the marine layer, so as it mixes throughout the day, conditions will change. With the cooler temperatures, strong wind gusts as high as 26 miles per hour are predicted. 

EVACUATIONS:  There are no evacuations in place for the Easy Fire. Anyone recreating in the area should be vigilant about being aware of surroundings and stay out of closed areas. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information about evacuation levels.  

CLOSURES: State Route 20 is closed in both directions between Granite Creek (MP 148) and Easy Pass Trailhead (MP 157).

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has closures in place for trails within the fire area: https://bit.ly/EasyFireClosures. Campfires are prohibited. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under the TFR. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760893080 

Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM

Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov