HomeMy WebLinkAbout090825 - Clarity on Let it BurnALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Two of the Jefferson County commissioners today appeared to have the understanding the Bear Gulch Fire is in the category of Let it Burn, at least that was the term used.
Please consider what the Federal Government and the Incident PIO categorizes in the following:
September 8, 2025
Estimated size: 10,275 acres
Containment: 9%
Start Date, Time: 07/06/2025, 8:37 p.m.
Origin Point: North side of Lake Cushman, Olympic National Forest.
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Structures Damaged: 0
Fire Personnel: 147
Strategy: Full Suppression
What does that term mean to Jefferson County whereas this fire has progressed in to the political boundaries of Jefferson County-without jurisdiction-Olympic National Park.
To get to my thought presented regarding the movement of the fire and the Enchanted Valley potential, take a look at the incident command's "Progression Map" last dated 5 September and
hopefully is a tool they continue to generate as their team models change; this gives a good visual on where the fire's mindset is heading along with the geography involved. For reference
consider its movement up the North Fork Skokomish, still in Mason County but has made it to Flapjack Lake area of the river valley.
This isn't meant to have fear but to be aware of the peninsula's potential for what could be a cross-peninsula fire for which we haven't seen in a long time; don't get caught off guard.
I don't expect (am not asking for a response in diplomatic terms), but having a lot of life long experience in how the Federal government manages its responsibility.
Consider the fire summit you all mentioned, maybe that is where you can relay what is the message:
Fire management plans developed since the Yellowstone fire in the National Parks across the nation, regarding Let it Burn and how "human caused" is the factor that "may" not be the current
focus when that term is used to define Full Suppression. NOTHING HEARD from ONP to date on implementation of their latest fire management plan.
Hope you can get the clarity; Tunnel Creek likely is the better question for ONF, but unknowingly can grow to include ONP given the landscape it lies in. And that is classified as lightning
strike so a little different background than Bear Gulch. If it heads in to the Park is one thing but if it heads downstream then it becomes a direct threat.
Ed Bowen
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