InciWeb Articles WA

The Goat Rocks Fire burned actively Monday but stayed within established containment lines. Most growth and firefighting activities were concentrated near the southwest portion of the fire, between Purcell Creek and the Coal Creek drainages. Areas around Lava Creek and Dam Creek were under smoke all day which helped to reduce fire activity in those drainages.Yesterday fire activity increased as temperatures rose, relative humidity dropped, and winds from the south fanned the fire. The fire burned through larger fuels and slowed where it moved into stands of young trees with less fuel on the ground. Fire that crossed to the south side of Coal Creek on Sunday made a push up slope to the southeast toward Three Peaks. The increased fire activity began Monday morning when heavy smoke still covered the area. Heavy smoke reduces visibility hindering aerial resource’s ability to drop water on a fire safely. After the smoke lifted later in the day, helicopters were able to drop water in the...

NW Pasayten Wilderness Fires ClosureClosure Order: 06-17-04-22-17 Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This Order supersedes Order # 06-17-04-22-15 dated September 9,2022, signed by Kristin Bail. This Order is effective September 23, 2022, through November 30,2022, unless rescinded sooner.PROHIBITIONS: 1. Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.53(e)].2. Being on a National Forest System trail, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.55(a)]. CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:The Fire Emergency Area Closure is defined as follows: The fire closure area boundary begins at the junction of the U.S. – Canada border and the administrative boundary with Ross Lake National Recreation Area (NRA)...

Public safety closures are in place.Closure OrderMap·Note: Closure description is correct but map needs

Effective September 26, 2022 an area closure order is in effect for areas near the Siouxon Fire on the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Administrative District within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The full area closure order and an area closure map is available on the forest website.For more information on the fires and closures on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, please visit the forest's Alerts and

 Smoke from the White River, Irving Peak, and Minnow Ridge fires will continue to impact local communities. Smoke dispersal is heavily influenced by weather and winds. The next few days will continue to be smoky, with some clearing Wednesday afternoon (9/28) through Friday due to a cold front moving into the area. Smoky conditions will return Saturday through the weekend and may linger for several days. Smoke from the Minnow Ridge fire is likely to impact the local vicinity until a season ending event (multiple days of significant rain or snow). Individuals who are sensitive to smoke may want to take precautions such as reducing outdoor activities. Fire updates will be infrequent unless significant changes in activity

A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from noon to 7 p.m. for the Goat Rocks Fire and vicinity. Gusty winds from the east are expected to bring dry air into the area, with relative humidity falling into the upper teens and low 20% range. The weather is expected to stay dry Tuesday before a shift to more typical on-shore flow brings in cooler, more humid air and possibly light showers later this week.The warm, dry weather today and tomorrow will lead to an increase in fire activity and smoke production. Some fire spread is expected as burning trees and logs fall or roll down the slopes and fire makes short runs up slopes. Some torching of individual trees or small groups of trees is likely, but fire is mostly consuming ground fuels. These fuels, including the duff layer of rotting wood, leaves and needles, fallen branches and logs, and green brush, burn more readily when dry. The fire is not expected to make large runs or gain much acreage despite the adverse weather conditions. Many...

   Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 26, 2022 Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 326 acres in size and is currently five percent contained. Acres increased only slightly with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather over the fire yesterday assisted in the firefighting efforts. Fire Behavior: The fire was located on a cliff and is now burning on extremely steep ground. Fire fighters are preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain where they can be successful. Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping with some torching observed. The potential for fire growth remains and containment lines are being put in place. Weather: Weather today is predicted to be warm and dry with gusty winds later this morning. Lower relative humidity is expected in the afternoon. A warmer and drier pattern is expected to persist over the next few days. Closures: ...

 CUSICK, Wash. – Northwest Incident Management Team 13 has achieved its objective of fully suppressing the Boulder Mountain Fire, keeping the fire footprint as small as possible and keeping the fire away from Tacoma Creek Road, east of Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge, and north of Calispell Peak and North Fork Tacoma Creek.   “We want to thank the Kalispel Tribe and the communities of Cusick and Usk for their hospitality and support,” said Northwest 13 Incident Commander Brian Gales. “The Tribe graciously allowed us to use their homelands and Pow Wow Grounds for our incident command post throughout this incident. Local residents and businesses have also made us feel very welcome.”   Today is the final operational shift for Northwest IMT 13. Washington Department of Natural Resources and Colville National Forest will reassume control of the fire Tuesday morning. For future information about the Boulder Mountain Fire, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/colville or...

Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 25, 2022Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is currently five percent contained. Air operations was able to do an Infrared (IR) flight yesterday and mapped the fire perimeter at 326 acres. Fire Behavior: The fire was located on a cliff face and is now on extremely steep ground, fire fighters are preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain where they can be successful. Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping. The potential for fire growth remains, but containment lines are being put in place and contain percentage information will be updated when the lines are complete and holding. Weather: Weather today is predicted to be sunny with warming temperatures and lower relative humidity expected in the afternoon. A warmer and drier pattern is expected to persist until next week. The local area has seen below average moisture which is also expected to continue into next...

 Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Smoke was visible with increased fire activity Friday afternoon in the Dam Creek and Coal Creek areas but crews kept the fire’s growth in check; its edge remains about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Fire managers continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; 85% of indirect control lines have been completed and firefighters have protected multiple acres in the Coal Creek drainage with direct control lines.  Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority on the Goat Rocks Fire.   Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, there was another small “slop” (cross) over the control line on Coal Creek’s north side, just beyond the previous day’s slop over on the fire’s western edge. Another small spot was located across the creek; firefighters contained these areas with both hand lines and hose lines. ...

Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Though there will be a change in command of the fire today, firefighters will continue their work to prevent fire from reaching highly-valued resources. Over the two weeks that Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) 10 has been in command of the fire, good progress has been made toward completing firefighting objectives: 92% of indirect control lines have been completed, additional contingency lines are in place between the fire and residential areas. Crews have reduced fuels around more than 150 homes in the closest neighborhoods and placed fire protection features such as hose lines, sprinklers and water tanks around those structures. To date, this work has been accomplished without any serious injuries. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority on the Goat Rocks Fire.   Northwest IMT 10 Incident Commander Alan Lawson would...

 CUSICK, Wash. – Although the Boulder Mountain Fire is approaching full containment, it will not be extinguished until sufficient precipitation falls to saturate fuels. A contained fire is fully enclosed by control lines and not likely to spread based on conditions. The Boulder Mountain Fire will continue to creep and smolder within its boundaries until it receives adequate moisture. “A tenth of an inch isn’t going to do it,” said Dean Warner, fire behavior analyst for Northwest 13. “Half an inch would probably do it. A quarter of an inch might be enough, depending on the location.” Typically, a few consecutive days of wetting rains are needed for fire danger to subside in eastern Washington. Warmer, drier conditions are forecasted to continue through midweek, and the current forecast shows no potential for rain until early October. Today, firefighters will put the finishing touches on containment lines securing unburned horseshoes at the northwest and southwest edges of...

   Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 24, 2022 Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 350 acres in size and is currently five percent contained. Acres increased only slightly with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather over the fire yesterday assisted in the firefighting efforts. Fire Behavior: The fire was located on a cliff face and is now on extremely steep ground, fire fighters are preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain where they can be successful.  Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping. The potential for fire growth remains, but containment lines are being put in place and contain percentage information will be updated when the lines are complete and holding. Weather: Weather today is predicted to be sunny with warming temperatures expected in the afternoon. A warmer and drier pattern is expected to persist until next week. ...

 There are two closure orders for the White River/Irving Fires and the Minnow Ridge Fire. Please view the links below for the respective closure

 CUSICK, Wash. – Firefighters are completing containment lines in key areas of the fire, while mopping up and rehabilitating lines in areas that are fully secured. Saw lines have been completed in the northwest corner of the fire where vegetation was too dense to effectively build handline or dozer lines. Instead, firefighters used chain saws to cut down or thin out heavy brush, tree limbs, and trees to disrupt fuel continuity. On the northeast part of the incident some dozer lines still need to be cleaned up and repaired. Mop-up, gridding for heat, suppression repair and rehabilitation are simultaneously taking place around the fire perimeter. This work includes removing brush/slash from road shoulders and grading where necessary.  The incident has begun the removal process of dispersed equipment across the incident this process is known as backhaul.  This back-haul process includes the gathering up of supplies and equipment no longer needed for suppressing the fire. Another...

 Washington Department of Transportation announced that US Highway 2 between Index and Skykomish will re-open tomorrow, at Saturday Sept 24 at 10:00am. There maybe smoke in the area, do not stop, but please slow down and turn on your headlights. Firefighters may also be working in the area.   Please check Wash DOT website for the most current road