Humans caused wildfire near Darrington; new fire sparks nearby

Right after the Forest Service announced the Huckleberry Flats fire was caused by humans, a new fire sparked in the same area.

Huckleberry Flats fire (U.S. Forest Service)

Huckleberry Flats fire (U.S. Forest Service)

DARRINGTON — Just as the U.S. Forest Service announced the 134-acre Huckleberry Flats fire was sparked by humans — and appeared to be 100 percent out — a new fire in the same area started Friday east of Darrington.

Crews were alerted to the new fire shortly before 3 p.m. about 6½ miles up Suiattle River Road. The state Department of Natural Resources initially reported a 4- to 6-acre fire, with flames on both sides of the road.

The rough gravel road is a main route to many hikes in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, including a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.

The fire was burning in brush and timber. DNR air resources were flying over the scene. The area burned previously in the Huckleberry Flats fire, which started Aug. 19.

On Friday, the Forest Service reported the Huckleberry Flats fire was human-caused and remained under investigation.

“This fire showed no heat on the reconnaissance flight, and this will be the last update,” the Forest Service reported Friday — just hours before the new fire.

Other fires in Snohomish County include the Dome Peak fire, which was at 1,076 acres and continued to be monitored about 25 miles east of Darrington.

An overhead flight recorded some hot spots in the Dome Peak fire Sept. 14, but the Forest Service said “all activity is within the proper management area.” Precipitation over the fire helped temper the blaze, the Forest Service reported.

There were no trail closures associated with the Dome Peak fire Friday. That wildfire was about 4 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail.

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

This photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions shows a submersible vessel named Titan used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic. In a race against the clock on the high seas, an expanding international armada of ships and airplanes searched Tuesday, June 20, 2023, for the submersible that vanished in the North Atlantic while taking five people down to the wreck of the Titanic. (OceanGate Expeditions via AP)
A new movie based on OceanGate’s Titan submersible tragedy is in the works: ‘Salvaged’

MindRiot announced the film, a fictional project titled “Salvaged,” on Friday.

Mike Bredstrand, who is trying to get back his job with Lake Stevens Public Works, stands in front of the department’s building on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Bredstrand believes his firing in July was an unwarranted act of revenge by the city. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lake Stevens worker was fired after getting court order against boss

The city has reportedly spent nearly $60,000 on attorney and arbitration fees related to Mike Bredstrand, who wants his job back.

Chap Grubb, founder and CEO of second-hand outdoor gear store Rerouted, stands inside his new storefront on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Gold Bar, Washington. Rerouted began as an entirely online shop that connected buyers and sellers of used gear.  (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Used outdoor gear shop Rerouted finds a niche in Gold Bar

Seeking to keep good outdoor gear out of landfills, an online reselling business has put down roots in Gold Bar.

Naval Station Everett. (Chuck Taylor / Herald file)
Everett man sentenced to 6 years for cyberstalking ex-wife

Christopher Crawford, 42, was found guilty of sending intimate photos of his ex-wife to adult websites and to colleagues in the Navy.

Most Read