Gnarl Ridge Fire Update 10/2/08
Incident: Gnarl Ridge Wildland Fire
Released: 10/2/2008
Type 3 Incident Management Team Leo Segovia, Incident Commander Gnarl Ridge Fire Daily Update
Thursday, October 2, 2008
On Wednesday, fire personnel continued to extinguish scattered hot spots on the Gnarl Ridge Fire. Most of the visible smoke came from burning fuels deep in the interior of the fire, or on the extremely steep slopes near Eliot and Polallie Creeks. A Type 1 helicopter dropped water on several flaming areas to reduce the potential for the fire to send embers past the fire lines.
The Yellow spike camp, one mile north-northwest of Cloud Cap Inn, was dismantled yesterday. The crews hiked down to the road while a helicopter transported their equipment.
Today will be a day with many changes at the Gnarl Ridge Fire. Some areas closed to public entry due to the fire are being reopened, effective today. For up-to-date closure information, see Page 2 of this update or go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/conditions/index.shtml#hor or call the Hood River Ranger District at (541) 352-6002.
Another big change is in the weather. After a spell of unseasonably warm and dry weather, the fall rain will be arriving. Showers are expected to start before noon today. Friday and the weekend are expected to bring heavier rain with gusty winds and cooler temperatures. There is a chance of local flooding, mud slides, and debris torrents.
In preparation for the forecasted rains, crews and equipment have been working to improve the drainage around the fire. Heavy equipment is being used to re-establish ditches and clear culverts. Waterbars are being dug to direct water off of bare soil on fire lines. Fire engine crews are using water to flush debris out of clogged culverts.
There will also be a change in the management of the Gnarl Ridge Fire. At 6:00 AM, the Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team, a Type 2 team, will be handing over control of the fire to a Type 3 team. The new team will be headed by Incident Commander Leo Segovia. The Type 3 team will continue the work of extinguishing residual heat, removing hazardous trees along roads, and doing work to reduce the erosion potential related to the fire.
Fire Information will continue to be available at (541) 354-1836, but hours of service will be reduced.
Fire at a Glance (10/2/08)
Size: 3280 acres
Cause: Lightning on August 7th.
Location: 18 miles south of Hood River, OR and 7 miles south of Parkdale, OR
Evacuations: None
Containment: 90%
Expected Containment: 10/15/2008
Crews and Equipment:
Dozers: 3
Crews: 4 Type 1
5 Type 2
Helicopters: 2 Type 1 (Heavy Lift)
1 Type 2 (Medium Lift)
1 Type 3 (Light)
Engines: 17
Total personnel: 471
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), Hood River County Fairgrounds, daily from 8am-8pm, at (541) 354-1836. New e-mail address is gnarlridgefire1@gmail.com.
Additional Gnarl Ridge Fire information is available online at http://www.inciweb.org/.
GNARL RIDGE FIRE
AREA CLOSURE
10/2/08
Due to activity associated with the Gnarl Ridge Fire, part of the Mt. Hood National Forest is closed to entry. This closure includes the following campgrounds, trails and roads:
·· Tilly Jane Campground
·· Cloud Cap Campground
·· Cloud Cap Road #3512
·· Forest Road 2840-630
·· Forest Road 2840-620 and associated spurs
·· Forest Road 3511 and associated spurs
·· Cooper Spur Trail #600-B
·· Elk Meadows Trail #645 north of the intersection with Gnarl Ridge Cutoff Trail #652A
·· Lamberson Spur Trail #644
·· Gnarl Ridge Trail #652 north of junction with Gnarl Ridge Cutoff Trail #652A
·· Polallie Ridge #643
·· Polallie Ridge Trailhead and associated dispersed campsites
·· Tamanawas Tie Trail #650-B
·· Wagon Road #642
·· Tilly Jane Trail #648
·· Tilly Jane Trail #600-A
·· Tilly Jane Trail #643
