If you noticed a large number of tents and camping gear at Thunder Mountain Middle School, it wasn’t a day camp for kids.
Firefighters teams organized by the state Department of Natural Resources have been based at the school while battling two forest fires in the Cascade Mountains at Burnt Mountain and East Fork No. 2 fires.
According to a department release on Saturday, the Burnt Mountain fire was down from 17 acres “to 9.9 acres. Continue mop up operations while downsizing forces. Grid and mop up where it is safe to do so. The department release stated the fire is within containment lines and is 40 percent contained.
The East Fork No. 2 fire is in mop up operations, “Fire operations will work towards 100 percent mop up and grid the fire. Operations will downsize today and begin removing hose lays.”
The Burnt Mountian fire was burning on steep ground with rocks and cliffs. The fire was about 10 percent contained by Aug. 10.
The East Fork No. 2 fire ignited Aug. 7 and was burning on steep ground with rocks and cliffs. The fire involved 5 acres and was 50 percent contained by Aug. 10.
Both fires were on commercial private timberland according to department officials
Jim Heuring is the incident commander for the operation.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Burnt Mountain is accessible by taking state Route 123 off SR 410 eastbound, then SR 12.
Resources stil in the operation are:
East Fork No. 2
• 1 camp crews
• 2 engines (strike team)
• 1 overhead
Burnt Mountain Fire
5 camp crews
3 engines
1 water tenders
6 overhead
1 Dozer
