Natural end sought for Crater Lake fire
Mail Tribune
September 06, 2006
By PAUL FATTIG
CRATER LAKE — Mother Nature remains squarely in charge of
putting out the 2,100-acre Bybee Fire complex burning in a
remote area of the Crater Lake National Park.
Since the fire was sparked by lightning on July 23 — followed by
a second lightning ignition on Aug. 7 — the National Park
Service has largely allowed the blaze to burn naturally.
The fire isn't expected to be snuffed out until the arrival of
the first fall rain or snowstorm. It is burning near the
5,500-feet elevation in the Bybee Creek drainage on the
southwest side of the park.
"This area evolved with fire," said Michelle Fidler, a
spokeswoman for the park service. "The fire creates a mosaic on
the landscape. It leaves a patchwork quilt, creating a healthier
forest overall."
The park remains open with no roads or buildings closed by the
fire.
However, the Lightning Springs Trail and a 10-mile section of
the Pacific Crest Trail between the Dutton Creek Trail and Bald
Crater Loop Trail are closed. The Lightning Springs campsites
are also closed.
"Public and firefighter safety is always our top priority,"
Fidler said. "Our goal is to allow fire to play its natural role
in the park where it is safe to do that."
One of the park service's goals is to return the area to a
fire-dependent ecosystem, Fidler said. The plan is to preserve
the popular park's unique natural resources created by fire
without jeopardizing any of its other resources, she added.
"We had a plan in place well before the lightning struck to do
this," she said. "When a fire like this meets our objective, we
will manage it for resource benefit."
Although fire crews are allowing the fire to spread naturally,
it is being closely monitored, she said. There are about 125
people assigned to the fire, including three crews of
firefighters.
"Crews continue to patrol the fire," she said. "We've already
put a (fire) line on the south and the west sides of the fire.
We're keeping it in check in those areas. But it is being
allowed its natural progress eastward."
By Tuesday morning, the northern section of the fire had moved
into an area burned by the 1994 Bybee fire, officials said.
Although wind gusts sometimes causes the fire to torch trees,
the fire is mainly burning woody material on the forest floor,
they said.
The smoke caused by the wildfire is also a natural part of the
ecosystem this time of year, Fidler said.
"The smoke will vary from day to day but visitors should expect
some smoke," she said, noting the smoke is being monitored
daily.
Visitors to the park are encouraged to stop at the Watchman
Overlook on the West Rim Drive to safely observe the Bybee fire
complex and learn about fire ecology. National Park Service
personnel will be on hand at the overlook from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
daily to answer questions.
For additional information, check out www.nps.gov/fire.
Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.
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