Gnarl Ridge Fire Update 10/3/08
Incident: Gnarl Ridge Wildland Fire
Released: 10/3/2008
Type 3 Incident Management Team
Leo Segovia, Incident Commander
Gnarl Ridge Fire Daily Update
Friday, October 3, 2008
On Thursday, fire personnel worked diligently on the Gnarl Ridge Fire, preparing for the predicted heavy rains. More work was done on establishing proper drainage along roads and fire lines. Surplus pumps, hose, and other equipment were retrieved from the fire line and hauled back to the Incident Command Post at the Hood River County Fairgrounds in Odell.
Crews fed piles of brush and woody debris into chippers. This converts a roadside eyesore and fire hazard into mulch. The chips can help protect the soil from erosion and hasten the decomposition of the plant matter.
With the higher humidity, the fire burned less actively yesterday. Water was dropped from a helicopter onto a burning snag in Eliot Creek, and crews mopped up additional hot spots near the road to Cloud Cap Inn. Much of the remaining heat is in the large logs and snags. They are extremely dry and need long exposures to moisture to soak up enough water to make them less flammable. Some of the fire is also burning underground in tree roots, which can be hard to locate and extinguish.
While Thursday's showers were light, today's low pressure system is expected to bring heavy rains. Additional waves of precipitation are predicted to hit this weekend, possibly including the remnants of Typhoon Jangmi. Southerly winds may gust up to 40 mph, increasing the danger of snags falling. By the end of the weekend, the fire area may receive 2 to 4 inches of rain, with snow possible above 6,000 feet.
While weather conditions allow it, fire personnel are continuing to improve the drainage on the roads and fire lines. More debris along roads is being chipped. Excess equipment is being pulled off of the fire. Much of this is being readied for shipment to other fires, as needed.
As of 6:00 AM yesterday, a Type 3 incident management team, headed by Incident Commander Leo Segovia, assumed responsibility for the Gnarl Ridge Fire.
The closure area around the fire changed yesterday, reflecting the reduced danger of this fire increasing in size. 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.
Fire information continues to be available at (541) 354-1836.
Fire at a Glance (10/3/08)
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: 1
Crews: 2 Type 1
3 Type 2
Helicopters: 2 Type 1 (Heavy Lift)
1 Type 2 (Medium Lift)
1 Type 3 (Light)
Engines: 13
Total personnel: 272
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
