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.
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