COLUMBIA INSIGHT EXCLUSIVE: Investigation finds BNSF railway at fault for Tunnel 5 Fire
Burning adjacent to heavily traveled Washington State Route 14 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the fire consumed more than 500 acres and destroyed 10 structures, most of them private residences. Now a State of Washington Department of Natural Resources wildland fire investigation report obtained by Columbia Insight has pinpointed debris from brakes and carbon emission particles from a BNSF locomotive engine as the cause of the blaze.
Why Washington’s Tunnel 5 Fire is destined to be repeated
With national insurance companies beginning to refuse to issue policies for homes in some parts of the country due to “growing catastrophic exposure,” is it time to reconsider the construction of houses in fire-prone areas and the way we fight nearby fires when they inevitably come?
Boulder Fire coming on as Tunnel 5 fire hits 65% containment
Firefighters are being pulled in multiple directions as multiple fires have broken out in Oregon, including the uncontained 60-acre Boulder Fire just 13 air miles west of Wamic in tall timber in the Mt. Hood National Forest.
Containment lines hold on Friday despite wind at Tunnel 5 Fire; Containment at 35%
“Firefighters will monitor and hold the control line today around the fire perimeter. Windy, hot and dry conditions will contribute to the ongoing consumption of interior pockets of fuel within containment lines,” according to this morning’s update.
Hotshots shore up western containment line on Tunnel 5 Fire near White Salmon; Fire is 20% contained
Fire Managers continue to add to their arsenal of equipment and personnel to stem the Tunnel 5 Fire burning 2 miles west of White Salmon, according to the latest stats shared by the Northwest Incident Management Team 12 this morning.