POMAS

### POMAS FIRE REPORT - July 29, 2025 ### Fire Start, Size and Growth **Start Date/Time/Location**: The Pomas Fire was first reported on the morning of June 13, 2025, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, approximately 36 miles northwest of Entiat, Washington. The fire was caused by a lightning strike. **Size and Containment**: As of July 27, 2025, the fire has burned approximately 3,446 acres and remains at 0% containment. Some reports indicate the fire has grown to over 2,000 acres as of July 3, 2025, and over 1,600 acres as of June 30, 2025. **Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread**: The fire is burning in heavy slash and brush, including grass, shrubs, and dead and downed timber within the footprint of the 2015 Wolverine Fire. Fire behavior has been observed as active, with long-range spotting, torching, and wind-driven runs. The fire is spreading north into Ice Creek and northeast into Aurora Creek, west of Borealis Peak, and south on both sides of the Entiat River. Firefighting efforts are challenged by steep and rugged terrain, with limited opportunities for direct, safe, and effective ground fire suppression. **Containment Efforts**: Firefighters are employing a full suppression strategy to keep the fire as small as possible. Efforts include constructing direct fire lines along the southern flank, improving existing firebreaks, and clearing trails. Natural barriers like steep, rocky cliffs are being considered as holding lines, but are not classified as true containment lines. Some containment lines from previous fires are being utilized, and protective fire-resistant materials are being applied to infrastructure. The estimated date for full containment has been scheduled for August 1, 2025. The cost to date has reached $3.2 million. ### Emergency Information **Evacuations and Sheltering:** **Evacuation Orders/Warnings**: As of July 1, 2025, there are no evacuation orders or threats to structures or homes. However, Chelan County has issued a Level 1 "Stay Alert" evacuation advisement for Holden Village. **Evacuation Shelters**: No evacuation shelters have been announced. **Estimated Number of People Impacted**: No estimates have been provided regarding the number of residents directly impacted by evacuations or warnings. **Road and Infrastructure Closures:** The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has issued closure orders for the Glacier Peak Wilderness, including associated trails, roads, and campgrounds, due to the Pomas Fire. Specific closures include the Entiat River Trail, Cow Creek Trail, and Myrtle Lake Trail. Both the Chiwawa and Entiat River drainages are under closure orders due to firefighter and heavy equipment operations. **For more information, visit:** * [Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Alerts](https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okanogan-wenatchee/alerts-notices) * [Washington Smoke Blog](https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/) * [InciWeb - Pomas Fire](https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-pomas-fire-2025) ### Current Impact **Impacts:** **Structures Impacted**: Currently, there are no reports of structures being damaged or destroyed. However, some old cabins exist in the remote area, and firefighters are preparing sprinklers and defensible space around values at risk. **Lives Lost and Injuries**: No information is available regarding lives lost or injuries related to the Pomas Fire. **Power Outages**: No information is available regarding power outages. **School and Business Closures**: No information is available regarding school or business closures directly related to the Pomas Fire. **Notable Impacts**: No notable individuals or landmarks have been reported as impacted. **Safety Concerns:** **Burn Bans/Fire Restrictions**: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has issued Stage 2 Public Use Restrictions, prohibiting campfires, recreational shooting, and other activities due to increasing fire danger. **Air Quality**: Smoke from the Pomas Fire has been impacting air quality in the Entiat area, with moderate air quality reported in the Methow Valley. Smoke may be visible from Entiat, Chelan, and Winthrop, with potential for increased smoke production due to warmer temperatures and drier conditions. Residents are advised to monitor smoke and air quality at wasmoke.blogspot.com. **Other Health Risks**: Residents are advised to stay informed through official channels and prepare for potential evacuation. ### Ongoing Outlook **Containment Projections**: The fire remains uncontained, with no immediate projections for full containment. Officials believe the blaze will likely burn with little or no containment throughout the summer months. Firefighting efforts are ongoing but challenged by terrain and fuel conditions, which may slow progress. The estimated containment date is August 1, 2025. **Weather and Wind Warnings**: While no Red Flag Warnings or extreme weather alerts specific to the Pomas Fire area have been reported in the latest updates, residents should remain vigilant as conditions can change rapidly. Warmer and drier conditions are expected, with highs forecasted in the low 80s to low 90s, and relative humidity dropping into the upper teens to low 20s in valleys. Winds will continue to be terrain-driven. Warmer temperatures and dry conditions returning this weekend have the potential for critical fire weather later next week due to increased winds, which could increase fire production. ### Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate **Cause**: The Pomas Fire was caused by a lightning strike. **Weather and Climate**: The fire is burning in an area with typical summer conditions for the Pacific Northwest, characterized by warm temperatures and dry fuels. The broader context of climate change in the region includes longer, hotter, and drier fire seasons, increasing the risk of wildfires. Persistent warm and dry conditions, coupled with potential for increased winds, contribute to the fire's spread and behavior. ### For more information, visit: * [InciWeb - Pomas Fire](https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-pomas-fire-2025) * [Washington State Department of Natural Resources - Wildfire Resources](https://www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfire) * [Washington Smoke Information](https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/)

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