The Estes Butte Fire is located 16 miles northwest of Plain, WA, and is estimated to be 2-3 acres in size. It is burning in heavy timber and brush on a ridge top near Estes Butte in the Chiwawa River Drainage. Current fire behavior is active with single and group tree torching with 100% of the fire perimeter active. Hazards include snags, rough terrain, and difficult access.
The fire is near the Rock Trail and Estes Butte Trail. The fire is also near Rock Creek, Schaefer Creek, Chiwawa Horse Camp, Riverbend, and Atkinson Flat campgrounds. The campgrounds are not currently threatened. The public is advised to avoid the trails near the fire.
Crews will construct fireline directly at the fire’s edge. Currently, there are 10 smokejumpers at the fire with additional rappelers ordered to assist with suppression efforts.
Aviation support, consisting of scoopers, will be taking water from Lake Wenatchee today. A helicopter will also be assisting the efforts and dipping from a dip site near the fire. We ask recreationists to stay out of the areas where scoopers and helicopters are collecting water.
The fire is in remote terrain that is difficult to access, smoke will likely be visible from a distance.
Information provided by the U.S. Forest Service – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest