Crews fight fire at Little Cranberry

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Water-dropping helicopters have been brought in to fight a fire in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands on the east side of Little Cranberry Lake and just west of Forest Ridge.

Fire crews from the city, state Department of Natural Resources and Mt Erie Fire Department overnight fought what Anacortes Fire Chief Richard Curtis termed a “slowly burning” fire which was first reported at around 8pm Thursday night.

Curtis Friday morning said about 20 fire personnel were on the ground fighting the fire that he said had covered 10-12 acres by Friday morning.

But, by mid-morning a second helicopter had been called in along with another DNR hand crew from Yakima.

Curtis said the fire doesn’t endanger anyone outside the forest and he didn’t forecast any change in wind conditions. No evacuations are needed at this time, he added.

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Jonn Lunsford, with the city Parks and Recreation Department send an email Thursday night saying, “We are posting signs and closing trails in that area. Please let your friends and family know that the best thing they can do to help fire crews is to stay out of the Little Cranberry area entirely.”

Mayor Gere said, “DNR Red Flag firefighters are experts in these types of fires and are keeping us well informed in how the fire is progressing and are managing the fire.”