Apparently, a new fire started somewhere along the Mother Lode trail (at least that is what the fire is called):  http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2636/13098/  So, what didn't burn last year seems to be burning this year.  This looks to be really close to the fire last year.   It looks like the fire is spreading pretty rapidly, too.  Looking at the size on the 4th, 6th and the 8th, it has grown quite a bit.  There are links on that site to show the sizes on past dates (in google earth).  Pretty neat technology, but sad that it appears to be blackening more of the wilderness.

I hope the lookout will be ok.  Soon we will have to call BOTW-BOTS, Bull of the Snags.  A shame to see it burn.   Bill

I think I read somewhere that the lookout was going to get some attention to keep it from burning.

Sounds like the fire has died down – it hasn't spread much in the last few days due to the cooler, wetter weather.  I saw some mention of "wrapping" the lookout, but I never knew what that meant.  Saw this picture from the Dollar Lake fire that kind of explains it: http://flic.kr/p/anYBST   Looks like they wrap it in some sort of reflective material protect it.  Not sure what good that would do if the fire was right there, but it must work (you would think), otherwise it would be a waste of money and time.

Well, with the warmer weather it appears the fire has flared up a bit again.  The latest reports show the fire growing by a couple hundred acres a day, but hopefully the forecast rain tomorrow will put a damper on it.  Here is a photo from Mt Lowe looking at the smoke from the fires, taken today, 9/24:

This fire should be stopping any day now...but meanwhile it has expanded across Mother Lode valley on the East lower end and up to the top of the ridge southeast of Welcome Lakes - close but not quite to last years Bull Burn. It also burned along the valley headwall to the junction of the trails up above Pansy Lake. Spot fires started up over the ridges to the north in both cases.   The good part is that much of the fire was on the ground - stand replacement may not have occurred or been limited, but the litter and shrubs under the trees will be gone. This fire is under wilderness rules and is not being fought.   I visited the Welcome Lakes area this summer and indeed much of the area was nothing but charcoal. West Welcome is untouched, but the campground and most of the area around the lakes near it saw complete stand replacement. Some trees remain near Welcome Lake below the campground area. Though there are large areas of dead forest there is also a mosaic mixing green forest with charcoal.   The most astounding thing was that people had camped at the campground in the charcoal and left garbage - the area had burned perfectly clean and they left garbage.

The last report I read on the inciweb site said it would probably be the last report, as the recent rains and cooler weather should eventually put the fire out. Were you part of the fire crew?  I would love to get in there and see the damage first hand, but since the area has been technically closed for over a year now, I haven't.  I've thought about hiking in there anyway, but have opted to obey the posted closures.  I just wonder how long it will be before they re-open the area.  Are the trails in really poor condition after the fire?  I keep hearing about "hazard trees", but no work appears to have been done to remove them...... I'm really glad it didn't get to Silver King Lake.  There is some really beautiful old growth in that area that would be a shame to lose. After hiking the Thunder mountain burn area this past weekend, and seeing how it has recovered pretty well, I think there is much hope for the wilderness areas that have burned.  I was surprised to see how quickly things are starting to recover at Thunder mountain.  I was there right after the fire, and it wasn't a pretty site.  Amazing how a few years can make such a difference. It astonishes me how ignorant people are - where do they think that garbage is going to go?   Do they believe the garbage fairy is going to magically take it away? Thanks for the post.  It is very interesting info.