Despite the arrival of snowfall to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan County, the Labor Mountain Fire is still actively burning for a 44th consecutive day.

The blaze was sparked by lighting on Sept. 1 about 13 miles northwest of Cle Elum and has since spread to consume approximately 42,809 acres and is holding steady at 30% containment.

On Monday, rain and snow within the fire zone helped to slow the flames in many areas, but also created accessibility issues for firefighters by making several roads impassable and creating hazards associated with icy conditions.

In places where crews could safely gain access, they continued to shore up extant fire lines and maintained the utilization of pumps, sprinklers, and other fire mitigation and suppression systems.

The removal of f

See Full Page