Ashley Lake fire jumps to more than 2,500 acres
Mike Humphrey for the Leader<br>The Ashley Lake fire has grown over the past week, covering more than 2,500 acres. This picture was taken Sunday night. The lights at the bottom are residences, seen in this longer exposure.
ST. IGNATIUS — The Ashley Lake fire has grown substantially in the last week and now covers more than 2,500 acres, but local fire crews are hoping cooler weather and possible precipitation in high elevations this weekend will slow the blaze down.
The fire had been creeping down the mountain but it is definitely coming down, fire management specialist Curtis Matt said.
On Tuesday the fire grew by more than 300 acres and Tribal Division of Fire began backburning to try to stem the fire's advance.
Lightning started the fire more than a month ago, but the fire remained less than 100 acres for all of August and into September. However, it jumped last week, though, reaching 700 acres before continuing to grow substantially over the weekend.
"It's a race between the weather and the fire. There is a weather front coming in on Friday and snow is predicted. If we can contain the fire until then we will be alright," Matt said.
The Tribal Division of Fire has positioned a crew close to the fire. The steep rocky terrain has forced the crew to rely on a containment line on the north flank of the fire.
"We are letting the fire roll down to the fire lines because of access to the area. We don't want to put any firemen in danger. It is not worth a man's life," Matt said.
Sunday evening, the fire was close enough to private property that Matt and his crew unloaded the bulldozer and created a fire line at the edge of the Biggs ranch. Up until then, the fire has not been a threat to homes outside of Mission.
"A contingency line is for peace of mind and it's our plan B. We built it for the houses in that area," he said.
Property owners are taking a few of their own precautions.
"We helped Skip Biggs put up a sprinkler system up to the fire line," Matt said. "He set up a hand line just in case the fire gets too close the fields."
Structural protection plans are in place for the homes in the vicinity.
"There are four houses in the area that could be in danger but with that contingency line there we shouldn't have a problem," Matt said. "It's a plan that helps us determine how much work we'd need to do if the fire comes to a house. We look at it to determine if it could be saved or not, and how many people are in the home."
Matt said that it's important to take precautions before the fire season starts.
"The big fire isn't what generally takes the home — it's the little spark left by the fire that usually starts the house fires. That's why we try to get people to 'fire wise' their places but it's a voluntary thing," he said.
The fire has caused smokey conditions throughout the valley, and Matt said folks with asthma and other conditions should limit their outdoor activities until the air clears.
"If it's a clear day out go outside and see the fire, but if you have any respiratory problems stay inside," he said.