I want to express my appreciation for the rapid response by the U.S. Forest Service in combination with Mount Rainier National Park and the Greenwater Fire Department.

I was at Crystal Mountain on July 29 when a loud crack of thunder seemed to hit right above us. Clouds had formed just east of the Pacific Crest Trail while it was all blue sky to the west.

Within 30 minutes I heard a helicopter flying overhead and watched as they circled an area in Pickhandle Basin just above the resort.

After circling a dozen times they left and returned shortly with a bucket and began dropping water on the two sites that were burning.

They kept up their drops until dark. The next day a ground crew was hiking into the site to mop up.

A number of calls came in reporting the fire which was critical for the response but the preparedness of the team that put it out deserves our thanks and appreciation.

Following the Norse Peak fire of 2017, having teams at USFS, the National Park Service and the Department of Natural Resources being trained and equipped is something we all should be thankful for.

Doug Blanchard

Enucmlaw