Columbia River Road Fire August 16, 2998 19 AM
Incident: Columbia River Road Wildland Fire
Released: 8/16/2008
In spite of temperatures exceeding 100° F, firefighters battling the Columbia River Road wildfire achieved 100% containment today. This means that the fire is encircled by a fireline, but is not under control. There is still fire burning in the interior of the fire area. Moreover, there are still hot spots that are an immediate threat to the control line.
With temperatures so high, humidity so low, and fuels so dry, this fire still requires attention and caution. Efforts continue to extinguish, cool, and "mop up" a 200-foot barrier along the fire perimeter and within 500 feet of structures. Care must be taken to protect firefighters from the effects of high temperature, such as dehydration, extreme fatigue, and heat exhaustion, as they work.
Several crews were released today and more will be released tomorrow to return home or assist with other fires burning in the area.
The 20 threatened homes within the fire area remain under an Evacuation Level 1 advisement. Residents are aware of the fire and are not restricted from their homes.
The Columbia River Road remains closed between Omak (at Cameron Lake Road) and Nespelem (Schoolhouse Loop Road). The Coyote Canyon Road is closed at Highway 155. Highway 155 remains open. The roads leading into the fire area from Highway 155 are all closed to non-residents. This includes the area from Coyote Canyon Road to Haley Creek Road.
A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is working to evaluate the damage caused by the fire and make recommendations on stabilization and rehabilitation needs.
Coordination is occurring between the Colville Confederated Tribes, State, Federal, and local agencies to ensure that this fire is safely brought under control.
