The Wildcat Fire has reached the north shore of Bumping Lake, with active fire behavior on the southern flank.
"Yesterday, the fire slowly backed downslope toward cabins along Bumping Lake and moved upslope to the northwest," fire officials said in an update Friday morning. No structures have burned.
As of Friday, the fire was 6,696 acres, without containment. Goose Prairie and Bumping Lake Road residents are on a Level 2 "get set" evacuation notice to leave voluntarily or be ready at a moment's notice.
"The fire grew evenly and slowly overnight," said Pete Suver, operations section chief for Complex Incident Management NW Team 10 in a video briefing Friday morning.
Crews continued to monitor growth to the southwest toward the Pacific Crest Trail. Near Bumping Lake, sprinklers have been operating around structures for four days, making the area more defensible as fire approaches. Heavy equipment operators are improving the dozer line around the Camp Fife and the Goose Prairie.
Firefighters are identifying structures and protection plans along state Route 410 in the Timber Creek area in preparation for fire spreading to the north, Inciweb reported.
“Spot fires are possible as embers are carried by winds to unburned areas,” according to Inciweb.
Areas around and in Yakima had an air quality ranging from unhealthy for sensitive groups to very unhealthy on Friday. Naches air quality ranges from moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
An air quality alert for Kittitas and Yakima counties is in effect until further notice. People are advised to stay inside and avoid strenuous activity.
“Multiple fires in the region are filling the Columbia Basin, so extended smoke relief may be limited,” according to a morning smoke update.
The National Weather Service forecasts a slight chance of showers on Saturday and Sunday with possible thunderstorms on both days in the Yakima area. Next week, there is a slight chance of showers through Thursday with lower temperatures.
The Wildcat Fire was started by lightning on Aug. 25. A total of 415 people were assigned to the fire Friday.
The campgrounds at Upper and Lower Bumping Lake are closed, as is the boat launch. Trail closures have expanded to include the Pacific Crest Trail from White Pass to Chinook Pass to protect hikers.
Forest Service Road 1800 at Bumping crossing is closed and Yakima County has closed Bumping Lake Road at State Route 410, limiting access to firefighters and local residents only.
