InciWeb Articles WA

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. Despite yesterday’s more active fire behavior, its edge remains about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority on the Goat Rocks Fire.  Fire managers continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; 85% of indirect control lines have been completed with additional direct control line in place around the spot and slop fires in the Coal Creek drainage near the 4610 Road.   Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, crews on the fire’s western edge focused on containing the fire that had “slopped” (crossed) over the containment line around the previous day’s successful burn operation.  Dozers and hand-crews along with helicopter bucket drops were used to limit growth; fire managers plan to have it mopped up by the end of today’s shift. A fire spotted south across Coal...

   Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 23, 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 develops on Saturday and is expected to...

Boulder Mountain Fire CUSICK, Wash. – In order to fully suppress a fire, all hot spots near the fire perimeter are located and extinguished by turning the soil as you would a campfire to put it out.  Firefighters are gridding the perimeter which is conducive to fully mitigating the possibility of reignition.  Gridding searches for small fires or hot spots by systematically traveling over an area on parallel courses or gridlines.  This ensures a cumulative assessment over the entirety of the fire line.   When firefighters clear trees and brush from roadways, the excess material is chipped.  This chipping continues to be utilised as a benefit to remove debris left over from mitigation activities and will be used to prevent erosion and other resource benefits.   Dense fog descended on the fire area which will lift to a cloud layer later in the day.  Visibility will be low until the afternoon when there will be a mix of sun and clouds.  Winds will remain slight with gusts up to...

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. Firefighters have finished removing fuels around structures closest to the fire and are patrolling those neighborhoods.   Although the fire had moderate growth, yesterday’s successful burning operation further strengthened control lines between the fire’s edge and highly-valued resources.  As of this morning the fire is being held at the 4610 Road, about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Fire managers are prioritizing firefighter and public safety as they continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; today, 85% of indirect control lines have been completed.   Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, conditions were favorable for the burning operation that had to be paused on Tuesday due to potentially unstable weather and winds. Firefighters carefully applied fire to clear vegetation further reinforcing fire breaks...

   Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 22, 2022 Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 304 acres in size and is currently five percent contained.  We were better able to map the area to give a more accurate account of the acres burned. Additionally, acres also increased with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather over the fire today will assist 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 cool and cloudy over the burn...

 Boulder Mountain FireCUSICK, Wash. – The cold front moving into the fire area will potentially bring sustained winds and a 10% probability of wetting rain.  Wetting rain is widespread showers that over an extended period of time significantly reduce fire danger.  One tenth of an inch may be sufficient to decrease fire danger in grass and up to one half inch may be necessary for timber. In order to reduce and mitigate landslides, firefighters utilize water bars to prevent water drainage that would follow topography established in sloped dozer lines.  Heavy equipment with capabilities of working on steep slopes are used to rehabilitate the fire line where equipment was used to create a fire break.  Natural vegetation is scattered on top of water bars and fire lines to slow the movement of rainwater to reduce the probability of sluffing of debris.  Firefighters assist in areas where equipment is unable to navigate. Utilizing equipment and firefighters to revert the environment...

 Washington Department of transportation plans to open Highway 2 Monday, September 26, 2022 with reduced speed limits and potential delays:  (6) WSDOT Traffic on Twitter: "UPDATE: Crews are working toward a US 2 reopening on Monday, 9/26. They continue to remove burned roadside trees that still pose a threat to public safety. Arborists with state parks removed 50-60 burned trees this AM & continue this work until immediate dangers are mitigated. https://t.co/OnjBLOLAP1" /

We have been getting lots of calls about the smoke impacting local communities from the White River, Irving Peak and Minnow Ridge fires burning 14-16 miles north and northwest of Plain, WA.  There was increased fire behavior on Monday and Tuesday due to the hotter and dryer weather, and we may see the fires become a bit more active this afternoon as temperatures increase. The total acreage for all of the fires is 7,950 acres. The Irving Peak and White River fires are less than a half mile from each other. Fire activity is mostly staying on the ground.  White River Fire: 3,604 acres 10% contained Irving Peak Fire: 3,406 acres 7% contained Meander Fire: 9 acres 0% contained Minnow Ridge Fire: 931 acres 0% contained (an increase of 281 acres)  We are continually assessing and reassessing fire suppression strategy. Fires are still within the area containment lines. The containment lines that are in place are located at the best options geographically due to the terrain.  Weather:  A...

 CUSICK, Wash. – Work on the fire is progressing rapidly, with large sections of containment line nearing completion and other areas shifting to patrol and monitor status. Crews will continue building direct and indirect line for the next several days.  Work has begun to rehabilitate line.  Fallers will begin cutting hazard trees along forest roads. Chipping of brush and hazard trees will continue at various points around the fire boundary. Depending on the terrain and fuels, completed containment lines can be a combination of dozer line, hand line other fire suppression activities. Repair work consists of pushing surface material that was removed by hand or with heavy equipment back into place or position it to prevent erosion. Safety: Safety of firefighters and members of the public are our first priority.  All hunters are encouraged to become familiarized with the USFS closure area, don personal protective equipment and practice safe hunting practices as forest grouse season...

   Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 21, 2022Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 267 acres in size and is currently five percent contained.  We were better able to map the area to give a more accurate account of the acres burned. Additionally, acres also increased with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather over the next few days will assist 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 cooler over the burn area, with...

Goat Rocks FireSeptember 21, 2022 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. The percent of containment on a fire is one measure of progress, but not the only one. Completion of firefighting objectives is another measure of progress. These objectives include construction of control lines and protecting highly valued resources such as the Packwood community, sensitive tribal resources, and historic structures at Packwood Lake. Fire managers continue to prioritize firefighter and public safety.  Over the past several days, firefighters have been creating “indirect” containment lines around the Goat Rocks Fire. This strategy is deliberate and methodical. Additionally, this strategy is designed to achieve the goals of protecting Packwood, the subdivisions and other values without subjecting firefighters to unacceptable risk. Over 70% of identified control line has been completed...

Goat Rocks FireSeptember 20, 2022 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. Crews continue to thin fuels along roads and chip fuels cut from around structures. Additionally, crews will evaluate an opportunity to apply fire in a small area along the 4610 road to better secure the line protecting the town of Packwood. There is a possibility that smoke may be visible should burning occur. Fire managers continue to prioritize firefighter and public safety.  Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, crews worked to complete line construction along Forest Road 041 south of the fire. They removed excess trees, masticated underbrush, and chipped material cut when hand line was constructed. Other crews also chipped cut material around the Upper Timberline neighborhood and Forest Road 046. A small test burn in the Coal Creek drainage was conducted as an observation of the fire activity. A test...

   Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 20, 2022 Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 238 acres in size and is currently five percent contained.  We were better able to map the area to give a more accurate account of the acres burned. Additionally, acres also increased with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather and a trace of rain on Friday evening are assisting 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 warm and dry...

Bolt Creek Fire Update9 AM, September 20, 2022Estimated size: 10,193 acresCompleted: 90%Start Date/Time: 9/10/2022 at 5:15 amArea of Origin: King Co., North of SkykomishCause: UndeterminedStructures Damaged: one out-buildingManagement of fire: Northwest Incident Management Team 8This will be the last Bolt Creek Fire update from Northwest Incident Management Team 8 (NWIMT8), Kevin Stock, Incident Commander. NWIMT8 would like to thank all the cooperators, stakeholder, communities, agencies, and firefighters for the support and cooperation provided during the Bolt Creek Fire. It takes all your participation to provide a successful outcome. Please continue to provide the same support to Western Washington Incident Management Team, Kent Standford, Incident Commander, who will assume management of the fire Wednesday morning. Road Closures: The Washington Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) geotechnical team was on site along the Highway 2 corridor yesterday identifying falling and...

 CUSICK, Wash. – A dry cold front will be moving in from east British Columbia and is expected to reach the fire area today.  This weather pattern is often referred to as a "backdoor" cold front and is typically associated with passage movement from the north.  This change in weather patterns can generate winds that will shift to a northeast-southwest trajectory later in the day with potential gusts reaching 25-30

White River & Irving Peaks Fire Update MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20THFire updates will be occurring about once a week, or as conditions change. According to the latest infrared map showing where heat is present, the White River Fire is ¼ mile from the Windmill Lane cabins on Windmill Lane. The fire is slowly backing downhill towards the road. Firefighting resources are trying to clean up the fuels between the fire’s edge and their containment lines, but the weather hasn’t allowed them to do much of that recently. Only about 2/100 of an inch of rain has fallen in the fire area over the past two weeks. The relative humidity has increased with the recent storm fronts, but the warming and drying trend this week will cause fire activity to increase as fuels dry out. Fires may be a little more active this week due to warmer temperatures. White River Fire: 3,373 acres 10% contained Irving Peak Fire: 3,407 acres 7% contained Meander Fire: 9 acres 0% contained Minnow Fire: 650 acres 0% contained...