Gnarl Ridge Fire Update 9-23-08
Incident: Gnarl Ridge Wildland Fire
Released: 9/23/2008
Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management TeamCarl West, Incident Commander
Gnarl Ridge Fire Daily Update
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
There were snow flurries at Cloud Cap Inn on Monday, and frost in fire camp this morning. Weather is changing from cloudy, cool and damp to clear, cold and dry. Wind direction is changing from west to south. The shift in weather is expected to increase fire behavior on the Gnarl Ridge Fire.
The fire was active during the night in the Tilly Jane drainage on the northeast corner of the fire, but by this morning it had cooled off and was no longer burning actively.
Also last night, a snag burning in the northwest corner of the fire was throwing embers across the fireline, but no new fires were ignited. The snag will be cut down and extinguished by Tuesday's day crew.
Most of the fire perimeter along the north and east sides has been lined. Some gaps in east side of the line are expected to be completed today, barring serious challenges from the expected increase in fire activity. Lines will need to be reinforced in following days.
Heavy equipment is working to clear the road to Cloud Cap Inn and Tilly Jane Campground. The road has been blocked by numerous falling trees and snags.
The three hotshot crews building handline on the fire's western edge along Stranahan ridge will be joined today by a rappel crew. Although the fuels are heavy in this area, and the mountain-influenced winds are uncertain, these crews are striving to stop the fire's western advance. Stranahan ridge is located between Eliot and Coe Creeks, high on the northern slope of Mt. Hood. The crews are near the 5000 foot level today, and working toward higher ground.
A community meeting was held Monday night in Parkdale. "We had good discussions and interactions between the Forest, the Incident Management Team, and the community," said Deputy Incident Commander Pam Ensley. The next community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 25, in the Parkdale Community Center at 7 PM.
Fire at a Glance (9/23/08)
Size: 3280 acres
Cause: Lightning on August 7th.
Location:
18 miles south of Hood River, OR and 7 miles south of Parkdale, OR
Evacuations: 18 homes
Containment: 17%
Expected Containment: 10/15/2008
Crews and Equipment:
Dozers: 8
Crews: 10 Type 1
11 Type 2
Helicopters: 5 Type 1 (Heavy Lift)
2 Type 2 (Medium Lift)
2 Type 3 (Light)
Engines: 35
Total personnel: 869
Closures:
For complete closure information, please see Page 2 of this update.
Contact Us:
For additional information, please contact us at the Gnarl Ridge Incident Command Post (ICP), at the Hood River County Fairgrounds, daily from 7am-9pm, at (541) 354-1836.
Additional Gnarl Ridge fire information is available online at http://www.inciweb.org/.
EMERGENCY FIRE CLOSURE
Until further notice the following campgrounds, trails and roads on the Mt. Hood National Forest are closed due to activity from the Gnarl Ridge Fire:
- Tilly Jane Campground
- Cloud Cap Campground
- Kinnikinnick Campground (Laurance Lake)
- Little John Sno·Park
Red Hill Road #16 and associated spurs
- Cloud Cap Road #3512
- Forest Road 3520 and associated spurs
- Forest Road 2840 and associated spurs (Laurance Lake Road)
- Forest Road 3511 and associated spurs
- Forest Road 1811
- Forest Road 1810-640
Timberline Trail #600 from the intersection with the Newton Creek Trail #646 north and west to intersection with the McGee Creek Trail #627
- East Fork Trail #650
- Bluegrass Ridge Trail #647
- Cooper Spur Trail #600-B
- Elk Meadows Trail #645 north of the intersection with the Newton Creek Trail
- Elk Meadows Perimeter Trail#645-A
- Lamberson Spur Trail #644
- Gnarl Ridge Trail #652
- Polallie Ridge #643
- Tamanawas Falls Trail #650-A
- Tamanawas Tie Trail #650-B
- Wagon Road #642
- Tilly Jane Trail #448
- Tilly Jane Trail #600-A
- Tilly Jane Trail #643
- Elk Cove Trail #631
- Pinnacle Ridge Trail #639
- Vista Ridge Trail # 626
- Mazama Trail #625 (a.k.a. Cathedral Ridge Trail)
For additional closure information please contact the Hood River Ranger District, during business hours, Monday through Friday, at 541-352-6002.
