As they neared the lake, a group of hikers who passed them a few moments earlier reappeared and called for help. A campfire from another party had been abandoned, and had jumped outside the fire ring. The fire was active and was torching areas far outside the campsite by igniting a system of shallow roots.

The two hiking groups scrambled to douse the blaze, about 300 feet from the lake. Using their waterproof stuff sacks and an abandoned rubber raft to carry water, it took the hikers about 90 minutes to put out the fire.