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 areas of the fire are sheltered from east winds by Beargrass Butte, reducing the wind’s impact on fire growth.
Sunday’s weather was warm and very dry, but the Goat Rocks Fire did not spread much or cross any containment lines. Helicopters were used to cool active areas in Lava Creek and Dam Creek. Fire continued to move down Coal Creek drainage, but did not cross the 1266 Road which has been prepared as a containment line. Sunday’s increase in smoke was partially caused by fire spreading into fuels with higher moisture contents in Coal Creek drainage. These fuels create more steam as they burn, like burning wet firewood. This steam becomes part of the smoke, increasing the volume but making it a lighter color with a lower concentration of soot particles.
Fire personnel continue to remove and chip brush along the 041 Road, and are preparing a new helicopter landing spot to the west of the fire for emergency use. As firefighters complete preparations along the 4618 Road to use it as a fire line, surplus hoses and equipment are being removed from the 4612 Road. Fire protection gear, including hoses and water tanks, remains in place in the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities.
Nevada Incident Management Team (IMT) 4 assumed command of the Goat Rocks Fire yesterday at 6 p.m. They will continue work needed to complete the last indirect containment lines designed to box in the fire. After these lines are completed, fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire and take action as needed to keep it in this box.
Forest Closures: For information on current road and trail closures, you can go to this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf
Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set).
Fire Restrictions: Campfire bans and other use restrictions are in place across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campfires are allowed within certain campgrounds identified on: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices.
Public Safety: Watch out for fire traffic in the Packwood and Randle areas. Slow down, pay attention to the road, and expect the unexpected.
Sign-up For Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/lewis-county-alert/
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. This deliberate and methodical strategy is designed to achieve these protection goals without subjecting firefighters to unacceptable risk.
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