[hopefully the coming weather will quash these this coming week - drm]
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Fire Update
8/26/2023– 6 pm
Overview: Following a significant lightning event that occurred August 24 and 25, more than 40 new ignitions have been reported across the forest. A quick response by firefighters from both air and ground support is under way. Reconnaissance flights occurring today will provide fire managers with a better idea of where all the fires are located, their size, and fire behavior.
Additional resources have been ordered. Equipment will continue to arrive today to support firefighting efforts and to provide access to fire starts. Helicopter firefighter crews along with ground-based firefighters are actively working the fires, with support by air assets dropping water. There is also an increased law enforcement presence on the forest to assist with public safety and fire management.
The public is being asked to not fly drones anywhere near the fires. Airships are being used throughout the area and moving between incidents. Drones can shutdown air operations hamper effective fire suppression.
A warming, drying trend expected this weekend may cause fire behavior to pick up. Conditions still exist for new fire discovery and development.
To facilitate the movement of heavy equipment needed to establish access to fires and support suppression efforts the public is being asked to not block roads or gates throughout the forest. In addition, please avoid using Forest Rd. 93 while a closure order for this road is developed.
Mount St. Helens NVM/Mt. Adam Ranger District - Ten new fire starts have been reported since Friday morning. Four of the reported fires are located north of the Lewis River near Forest Road 9341 and Snagtooth Mountain. These fires are burning in steep, hard to reach terrain. A dozer, masticator, and two Type 2 crews will arrive later today to help get Forest Road 9341 opened to better size up the fires.
Cowlitz Valley Ranger District– Over 30 new starts have been reported since Friday morning. Fires have been reported in the Dark Divide, Adams Fork Campground area, and South Fork area 7 miles northwest of Packwood, WA via Forest Rd. 1256. Heavy equipment is on site with more ordered.
Visitor use may be impacted by fire activity and response efforts.
Fire Information Phone Line: (360) 497-1111
Many new fires in Gifford Pinchot
Re: Many new fires in Gifford Pinchot
[Here is the update. The weather this week should help a lot, though lots of hiking and camping plans will be ruined by the cold weather up high.]
A significant lightning event late last week triggered 45+ new fire starts across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Fire fighters have been working hard to contain the many fires using both air and ground support.
A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage multiple fires on the forest. They will be arriving Monday to assume management of several of the larger fires.
More firefighting crews and equipment have been ordered and continue to arrive to assist with the fires.
Overnight an infrared flight will map fire perimeters and hot spots across the forest providing fire managers with valuable information.
Some of the fires that are less accessible are currently unstaffed as available resources focus on incidents of greater concern and greater likelihood of successful containment.
A map of the fires is expected to be available for the next update.
Cowlitz Valley Ranger District – Thirty-five fires are currently burning on the north end of the forest. Two fires, South Fork, and Grassy Mountain, burning outside of Packwood and Randle, WA are high priorities for fire resources. South Fork Fire is now 15+ acres in size and Grassy Mountain Fire estimated to be at least six acres. Several other unnamed fires have also grown to 15- 20 acres in size.
Adams Fork Campground Fire is now 50% contained. The Carlton Ridge Fire is currently staffed with firefighters.
Mount St. Helens NVM/Mt. Adams Ranger District – Thirteen fires are currently burning on the south end of the forest. Fire fighters have made good headway on containing several of these fires while others are nearing containment.
The focus now is on the Snagtooth Mountain Fire. Five fire starts in the Snagtooth Mountain area have merged into one fire. The Snagtooth Mountain Fire is now estimated to be over 200 acres in size. Road barriers have been put in place on Forest Road 93 for public safety and in preparation for transport of large equipment used for fire suppression. Please avoid this area until further notice.
Due to the large number of fires starts and dynamic situation forest users are being encouraged to avoid travel on the forest and consider alternative plans until more fire containment is achieved.
Road and trail closures are being considered and will be put in place if conditions warrant. It is advisable to check fire updates before venturing onto the forest.
Fire Information Phone Line: (360) 497-1111
A significant lightning event late last week triggered 45+ new fire starts across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Fire fighters have been working hard to contain the many fires using both air and ground support.
A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage multiple fires on the forest. They will be arriving Monday to assume management of several of the larger fires.
More firefighting crews and equipment have been ordered and continue to arrive to assist with the fires.
Overnight an infrared flight will map fire perimeters and hot spots across the forest providing fire managers with valuable information.
Some of the fires that are less accessible are currently unstaffed as available resources focus on incidents of greater concern and greater likelihood of successful containment.
A map of the fires is expected to be available for the next update.
Cowlitz Valley Ranger District – Thirty-five fires are currently burning on the north end of the forest. Two fires, South Fork, and Grassy Mountain, burning outside of Packwood and Randle, WA are high priorities for fire resources. South Fork Fire is now 15+ acres in size and Grassy Mountain Fire estimated to be at least six acres. Several other unnamed fires have also grown to 15- 20 acres in size.
Adams Fork Campground Fire is now 50% contained. The Carlton Ridge Fire is currently staffed with firefighters.
Mount St. Helens NVM/Mt. Adams Ranger District – Thirteen fires are currently burning on the south end of the forest. Fire fighters have made good headway on containing several of these fires while others are nearing containment.
The focus now is on the Snagtooth Mountain Fire. Five fire starts in the Snagtooth Mountain area have merged into one fire. The Snagtooth Mountain Fire is now estimated to be over 200 acres in size. Road barriers have been put in place on Forest Road 93 for public safety and in preparation for transport of large equipment used for fire suppression. Please avoid this area until further notice.
Due to the large number of fires starts and dynamic situation forest users are being encouraged to avoid travel on the forest and consider alternative plans until more fire containment is achieved.
Road and trail closures are being considered and will be put in place if conditions warrant. It is advisable to check fire updates before venturing onto the forest.
Fire Information Phone Line: (360) 497-1111
Re: Many new fires in Gifford Pinchot
There is also another smaller one in the Dark Divide on the ridge between Holdaway Butte and McCoy Peak. Hopefully the weather squelches them this week.
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased
Re: Many new fires in Gifford Pinchot
[another update]
8/28/2023– 10 pm
Since Friday over 40 new fires were sparked by lightning on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with the largest being the Snagtooth Fire that resulted from five fires burning together, now covering an estimated 700 acres.
The Snagtooth fire is burning in the center of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Forest Rd. 9341 north west of the Lewis River.
In anticipation of ongoing fire activity in the vicinity of the Snagtooth Fire the following roads and trails will be closed to the public to reduce exposure and help ensure public safety: Forest Roads 9300 and 9341 (currently off limits), Boundary Trail #1(from Elk Pass to intersection with Summit Prairie), Summit Prairie #2, Craggy Peak #3, Snagtooth #4, Quartz #5, Stabler Camp #17, Wright Meadows #80, Basin Camp #3A, Quartz #5B, Quartz #5C (French Creek), Snyder Pasture #80A.
A marine layer moved into the region today providing some moister air and cooler temperatures. This helped slow the growth of fire. Despite the moister air abnormally dry conditions persist across western Oregon and Washington. Please follow all fire restrictions.
Crews continue to make progress in containment of multiple fires on the forest. In some areas fires within established containment lines have been showing signs of creeping behavior with some roll outs in steeper terrain.
On the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District some fires remain unstaffed as fire fighters focus on higher priority fires like the Grassy Mountain, South Fork, Carlton Ridge Fires, along with the Twin Fir and #1254 Fires burning within Mount Rainier National Park.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 will be taking over command of the complex of fires on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Wed., Aug. 30 bringing some greatly needed resources to help fight the fires.
8/28/2023– 10 pm
Since Friday over 40 new fires were sparked by lightning on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with the largest being the Snagtooth Fire that resulted from five fires burning together, now covering an estimated 700 acres.
The Snagtooth fire is burning in the center of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Forest Rd. 9341 north west of the Lewis River.
In anticipation of ongoing fire activity in the vicinity of the Snagtooth Fire the following roads and trails will be closed to the public to reduce exposure and help ensure public safety: Forest Roads 9300 and 9341 (currently off limits), Boundary Trail #1(from Elk Pass to intersection with Summit Prairie), Summit Prairie #2, Craggy Peak #3, Snagtooth #4, Quartz #5, Stabler Camp #17, Wright Meadows #80, Basin Camp #3A, Quartz #5B, Quartz #5C (French Creek), Snyder Pasture #80A.
A marine layer moved into the region today providing some moister air and cooler temperatures. This helped slow the growth of fire. Despite the moister air abnormally dry conditions persist across western Oregon and Washington. Please follow all fire restrictions.
Crews continue to make progress in containment of multiple fires on the forest. In some areas fires within established containment lines have been showing signs of creeping behavior with some roll outs in steeper terrain.
On the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District some fires remain unstaffed as fire fighters focus on higher priority fires like the Grassy Mountain, South Fork, Carlton Ridge Fires, along with the Twin Fir and #1254 Fires burning within Mount Rainier National Park.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 will be taking over command of the complex of fires on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Wed., Aug. 30 bringing some greatly needed resources to help fight the fires.