Lightning sparked fire grows near Plain

PLAIN — The Shugart Fire, located above Shugart Flats in Plain, is at an estimated 15 acres. Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue (LWFR), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have been supplying air and ground support to increase containment.

The fire, caused by a lightning strike on Beesting Hill on the evening of Aug. 17, prompted Level 1 evacuation orders for Shugart Flats Rd., South Shugart Flats Rd., and Allen Rd. It currently has an estimated 50 personnel on it, including two hand crews, one engine company, one strike team, and a Hotshot crew, according to Ryan Rodruck, DNR Communications Manager.

Rodruck said temperatures and humidity were moderating, but the greatest challenges firefighters face are wind and terrain.

“I’d classify it as somewhat challenging terrain. That's why we put an emphasis on those hand crews and Hotshot crews to help us be able to gain access to some of the more challenging portions of it,” said Rodruck.

On the night of Aug. 17, LWFR and Fire District #3 cut control lines along the lower edge of the fire above structures and up the south side of the fire, according to an LWFR update. LWFR remained working on the lower portion of the fire as a DNR Task Force and a USFS hand crew arrived on Aug. 18 to address the higher portion. DNR and USFS crews continued to create fire lines to increase containment as water lines were established on the lower portion of the fire. A Helicopter N406RG was also brought in.

Aug. 17, thunderstorms caused four fires in the Leavenworth and Cashmere area. The Walker Fire near Eagle Creek, Diablo Fire on Wedge Mountain, and Mission Creek and Yaksum Fires near Cashmere have since been contained. 

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media