Fire Update for July 21, 2008
Incident: Cold Springs Wildland Fire
Released: 7/21/2008
Cold Springs Fire Update
July 21, 2008
Fire Information (509) 395-2670 Hours: 7:00 AM TO 9:00PM
coldspringsfire2008@gmail.com www.inciweb.org/
At 6 am this morning Central Oregon Incident Management Team was given responsibility for two wildfires in the area: the Sheep Lake Fire and the Big Lava Fire. The Sheep Lake Fire is located on the north side of Mt. Adams. Acreage is estimated at ½ acre. Four repeller firefighters were airlifted to the fire on Sunday. The Big Lava Fire is located at the southern end of Big Lava Bed. Acreage is unknown. On Sunday a night shift crew was assigned to initial attack with engines and watertenders. Cause of the fire is unknown. Estimated acreage is 5 acres.
FIRE ACTIVITY SUMMARY: Acreage is currently at 7980 with 75% containment. In the Bird Creek drainage fire continues to smolder and creep with isolated single tree torching. Burnout operations proceed in the north, as needed, to reduce interior islands of fuel. In all divisions mop up and patrol are ongoing. Due to the amount of dead and down fuels, terrain, and density of fuelsm, mop up will be arduous. Smoke or smoke columns may be visible when burnouts occur and does not indicate fire growth.
WEATHER: Warmer, drier weather will continue with highs in the mid 80's to low 90's. Minimum relative humidities will be 12 - 15 %. Inversions are expected to lift in the mid-morning. Winds will be SW.
CLOSURES:
Gifford Pinchot National Forest has enacted a new closure order. The following campgrounds are closed: Cold Springs, Morrison, Mt Adams, Horse Camp. Road Closures include FS 80, 82, 8040 east of the 23 at the forest boundary. Trails now closed include: Stagman Ridge, Salt Creek, Buck Creek, Cold Springs, Crofton Ridge, Morrison, Snipes Mountain. For more information, please contact 509.395.3402. State of Washington Department of Natural Resources campground closures include: Bird Creek and Island. Yakama Nation closures include: Bird Creek, Mirror Lake, and Bench.
CLIMBING OPPORTUNITIES in the Gifford Pinchot NF are still abundant, with access from the north. White Salmon Glacier, Avalanche Glacier North Cleaver Glacier, and Adams Glacier are open. Access from the Yakama Reservation is restricted.
TROUT LAKE and GLENWOOD COMMUNITY: Both communities are open with clear skies.
FIRE CAMP LOCATION: Trout Lake School. HELIBASE: Trout Lake Airport.
COOPERATING AGENCIES: USDA Forest Service, Yakama Nation, Yakama BIA, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Yakima and Kickitat County Sheriff's Dept, Skamania Sheriff' Dep, WA-SES, WA-YAA. Hancock Forest Management has contributed significantly in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources for suppression on industrial forest lands.
QUICK FACTS:
Acres: 7980
Containment: 75%
Location: 10 miles NE of Trout Lake, WA
Cause: Lightning
Start Date/Time: 7/12/2008
Total personnel: 1096, Crews: 33, Dozers: 9, Engines: 37, Helicopters: 1 Light, 1 Medium, 3 Heavy, Watertenders: 24.
