Bead Lake Trail and Baldy Mountain Emergency Closures Lifted Today

Release Date: Sep 3, 2015

Contact(s): Franklin Pemberton

Newport, WA - The temporary emergency closures issued for the Bead Lake Trail and Bead Ridge Road northeast of Newport, WA., as well as the Baldy Mountain area northwest of Ione, WA. has been lifted.  Effective September 3, 2015 these closures are lifted and full public access restored.

While these area closures have been lifted, the Colville National Forest is still under full fire restrictions and Industrial Fire Precaution Level 4 (IFPL4).  Fires, including campfires and charcoal fires are prohibited and chainsaw use continues to be prohibited across the Forest.

Forest and fire managers are continuing to assess hazards in each of our temporary area closures daily and will determine when it is safe for both firefighter and public safety, to reopen areas currently closed. “It is my intent to reopen access to public lands as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Rodney Smoldon, Acting Forest Supervisor.  “Each day we evaluate whether the risks to firefighters and the public have been removed or mitigated.  As conditions change, we will modify the closures accordingly.” 

In the remaining closure areas, there is active fire burning in heavy fuels and firefighters and aircraft continue to work in these areas. A number of these burned areas will have new hazards including weakened burned trees, burning stump holes covered in ash, unstable soils, and changed road conditions.   In some cases, rehabilitation operations have begun and closures are needed due to heavy equipment working in the area.  It is likely that some closures may remain in place through winter.

For more information on a specific area closure, please contact your local ranger district office.

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