High temps, low humidity set off interior burning within Williams Mine Fire near Trout Lake
Strategic burning around the Morrison Shelter on Sept. 2 created much smoke that was visible Monday afternoon. The burning reduced the amount of fuel near the shelter and trailhead and helped secure this area. The fire has cooled down, and smoke production was much lower on Tuesday. Interior burning at the Williams Mine Fire is contributing to smokey conditions in the mid-Columbia region. Photo Courtesy Williams Mine Fire Facebook Page.
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 6, 2024 — A red warning for high winds and low humidity creating unstable fire conditions was lifted today at 11 a.m. Fire activity had increased during the past two days and nights as unburned timber and dry vegetation as winds pushed the fire west from Morrison Creek Drainage up Crofton Ridge.
The lightning-caused fire is now in its 32nd day and is 31 percent contained with an estimated 13.028 acres within the burn area.
Fire managers are using one hand crew, 15 pieces of heavy equipment, and a total of 5 engines and dozers to battle the blaze burning in the Mt. Adams Ranger District. There are 134 personnel working the fire.
“This and other burning areas produced ample smoke on Thursday, Sept. 5,” according to today’s press release from the U.S. Forest Service. “During the afternoon, the smoke began to drift downslope into the valleys, obscuring Mt. Adams and producing poor air quality. There have been large unburned islands inside the fire perimeter. The largest pocket, between Morrison Creek and Crofton Ridge, plus some smaller areas burned yesterday, pushed by the wind and backing into it.”
“Most of these unburned pockets are expected to be cleaned up by the fire. Since they are surrounded by areas that have already had the fire consume most of the fuels, these interior flareups are of little concern to fire personnel. These areas are monitored but rarely merit any suppression actions,” the release states.
“A helicopter continues to drop water on the eastern edge of the fire in the Mt. Adams Wilderness, trying to slow this edge's progression to the east. The objective is to keep the fire west of South Climb Trail and off of the Yakama Reservation. “
Temperatures in the area of the fire are expected to be in the mid-90s for the next two days, according to the National Weather Service.
Forest Service Road (FS Rd) 23 is still closed while fire personnel complete work on it as a contingency line. Excavators and dump trucks are on the road moving limbs and brush and clearing ditches. A hand crew will be working along the road, cutting brush that machines couldn't reach safely.
Williams Mine Fire Map. Click the image to enlarge it.
SAFETY AND CLOSURES: A Red Flag Warning indicates that conditions may be favorable for rapid fire spread which may threaten life and property. Use extra caution with potential ignition sources, especially in grassy areas.
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area is currently closed. FS Rd 23 south of FS Rd 90 is still CLOSED to the public due to fire suppression activity. Takhlakh Lake is still closed. The revised closure for the Mt. Adams Wilderness and FS Rd 23 closure can be found at Williams Mine Fire: Area and Road Closure. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from the PCT's intersection with FS Rd 23 to Potato Hill. The current area closure spans the entire Mt. Adams Wilderness. Public information: https://linktr.ee/williamsminefire Facebook: Williams Mine Fire Inciweb: http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident- Information/wagpf-williams-mine-firegonf E-mail: 2024 williamsmine@firenet.gov
Smoke: https://www.airnow.gov
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