Big Horn Fire in Klickitat County held to 50,000 acres over weekend; mop up begun
The Dalles, Ore., July 29, noon — Firefighters had much success over the weekend containing the 50.000-acre Big Horn Fire burning in southeast Klickitat County.
“Yesterday, crews concluded their last evening of night shift patrol. Crews monitored the fire lines watching for anything smoking or smoldering. Pine Creek had some smoke, but it was well interior of the fire with the fire edge still holding strong,” reported Hannah Cleverly with the SE Washington Inter-Agency Team.
The fire is now estimated at 68 percent contained.
32 engines, 8 water tenders, 1 dozer, 3 hand crews, and 154 personnel were reported battling the fire.
“Today we will see cooler weather in the area. Dayshift crews will continue checking the strength and security of the fireline,” Cleverly said. “Crews will continue to monitor for any smoke or hotspots on the interior fire and will mop-up those areas as needed. We will continue demobilizing resources today sending some home to rest while others will be reassigned to different fires. The fire perimeter has not changed.”
Evacuation Levels: There are still areas with Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuations at this time. Please visit Klickitat County Emergency Management’s website or check Facebook for the most current information:
Road Closures: Firefighters are still working in the area so please drive with caution. The westbound shoulder of Highway 14 and Alderdale Road from Linda Lane south to the intersection of Highway 14 remains closed.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Cooler temperatures are expected today with warmer temperatures anticipated later in the week. Some moisture can be felt in parts of the county, but not enough moisture to make a difference in the dry fuel conditions.
Smoke: Klickitat County still has air quality alerts, as active wildfires continue to burn throughout Washington and surrounding states. Communities may see air quality worsen as wind conditions change. Critical fire weather continues across Central and Eastern Washington; please continue to recreate responsibly as any fire starts could spread quickly. For more information on smoke and air quality, please visit: Washington Smoke Information (wasmoke.blogspot.com
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