Dear friends and neighbors,

You may have seen on the news that a private helicopter crash claimed four lives and started a fast moving wildfire that grew quickly Thursday to 400 acres on State protected lands. Firefighters are challenged by steep rocky terrain covered with a dense forest cover. Continued cool temperatures and higher humidity have helped keep the fire from spreading. The current conditions will facilitate in getting the crews on site and assist them in fire fighting efforts. Some National Forest trails in the vicinity of the fire have been closed including, Blowout Mountain trail 1318, Goat Peak trail 1304, Big Creek trail 1341, North Ridge trail 1321 to Junction with Trail 1321.1, Blazed Ridge trail 1333, Upper Big Creek trail 1388.2, and Manastash Ridge 1388 from Blowout Mountain to Junction with trail 1326.

A Park Ranger told Evan Harding this afternoon that the fire is about 10% contained and is very unlikely that it would spread toward Kachess Village.  We bring this to your attention not to alarm you but to let you know what�s going on.  The smoke is visible from the lake.  If you have any questions, you can go to the National Incident website at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/903

Thank you,

Tom Carmody

Kachess Board President