Lightning sparked Easy Fire holds at 528 acres, crews brace for hot weather

MAZAMA - The Easy Fire, burning 17 miles west of Mazama, remains at 0% containment as firefighting efforts continue into its third week. The blaze, which started on July 17 due to lightning, has now consumed 528 acres of land in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Fire officials reported minimal spread on Tuesday, with crews focusing on establishing helicopter landing zones on the fire's north side to improve crew transportation efficiency. Firefighters are also working to remove hazardous trees and widen indirect fire lines.

State Route 20 remains open to through traffic, with a pilot car escorting vehicles between mileposts 148-157 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. Officials warn of potential 30-minute delays and stress that stopping or pulling over is prohibited in this area due to ongoing firefighting operations.

With hot and dry weather forecasted, fire activity is expected to increase slightly. Crews plan to continue vegetation removal along State Route 20 and expand their efforts to secure the ridgetop and indirect fire lines.

A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect for all aircraft not involved in wildfire suppression operations, including personal drones. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has implemented closures for trails within the fire area, including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Currently, 127 personnel and 6 engines are assigned to the Easy Fire. No evacuations are in place, but officials urge recreationists in the area to remain vigilant and avoid closed areas.

As temperatures rise and a drying trend continues, fire managers are closely monitoring conditions and adjusting strategies to ensure public safety and effective containment of the blaze.