Williams Mine Fire Update for Thursday, August 22, 2024
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From U.S. Department of Algaculture:
Fire start date: August 5, 2024
Fire size: 11,764
Hand Crews: 14
Location: 3.5 miles northwest of Trout Lake, Washington.
Percent Contained: 19
Engines and Dozers: 20
Cause: Lightning
Total personnel: 697
All direct lines are now established and in place around the southern fire perimeter. Mop-up operations will continue until these lines no longer pose a threat to perimeter security. Significant operational effort has been put in on the south end of the fire protecting values at risk and fire managers feel great progress has been made in meeting these community objectives.
As of August 21st, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Klickitat County evacuation levels have been changed from a Level 2 to a Level 1. Evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.
CURRENT STATUS:
There are five masticators on the FS-070 road working to clear vegetation from the area improving control features. Fire personnel are also utilizing chippers to remove slash-to-discard material. The fuel stabilization work will be completed in the next three operational shifts. Firefighters have cold trailed up to 150 feet of depth into the interior of the fire perimeter in many locations to ensure no probability of reignition in these areas is possible.
North of Trout Lake, backhauling of the hose has commenced as firefighters complete mop-up operations. Portions of the southern flank of the perimeter have been placed in patrol status. Forest standards are being implemented as heavy equipment works to return roads to public use standards. Control and containment operations will continue through the weekend.
In the northeastern area of the fire, crews are cold-trailing along Snipes Mountain. Through the next two days, crews will be working at the South Climb Trail Head to mitigate further fire spread potentially to the east.
WEATHER / FIRE BEHAVIOR:
A low-pressure system from the northwest will likely start bringing moisture to the fire area today. The highest probability of rain is tonight after 5:00 pm through the early hours on Friday morning. Over a ¼ of rain is forecasted throughout the weekend with the possibility of some thunder. Clouds that rolled in yesterday will remain and keep the cooler temperature trend.
SAFETY AND CLOSURES:
Washington DNR-managed lands near Trout Lake and Glenwood are closed to entry due to the Williams Mine Fire. For more information, please see http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area is closed, please see Yakama Tract D Road Closure for more information. Level 1 evacuations are in effect for the community of Trout Lake, and parts of Klickitat County. Evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office. The FS-23 and FS-25 roads are closed, see the Williams Mine Area and Road Closure for more details. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from the PCT's intersection with FS 23 to Potato Hill. The current area closure spans the entire Mt. Adams Wilderness.
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