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Tunnel Five Fire

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Unit Information

Washington 
Ellensburg, 
98926 
Washington 
Ellensburg, 
98926 

Incident Contacts

Fire Information
Phone: 509.310.3229
Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM Every Day

Skamania County Firefighters responded to reports of a wildfire on July 2 at approximately 11:19AM. Hot, windy conditions coupled with extreme terrain led to rapid fire spread and evacuations in the area. 


The fire transitions to a Type 4 IC Tuesday at 0600.  

Smoke and aircraft may be visible within the I-84 corridor. Travelers should use caution.

Basic Information
Current as of Fri, 07/14/2023 - 17:28
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin
Location 2.25 miles west of White Salmon, WA
Incident Commander Northwest Incident Management Team 12, Incident Commander Bobby Shindelar
Coordinates 45° 43' 16'' Latitude
-121° 34'
42
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 256
Size 529 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 80%
Estimated Containment Date 08/01/2023
Fuels Involved

Timber (Grass and Understory)

Timber (Litter and Understory)

Hardwood Litter

Significant Events

Minimal

Backing

Creeping

Smoldering

 

The fire has been wind tested for three days. Continued scattered smoldering in larger logs and stumps.

 

Outlook
Planned Actions

Div-A: Continue mop-up and securing around structures near A/Z break. Continue chipping operations. Backhaul equipment.

Div-D: Monitor and secure fire edge from the ridge down to Hwy 14 where possible. Backhaul equipment. 

Div-G: Patrol and mop-up around old mill site and Spring Creek fish hatchery. Monitor and mitigate rollout towards structures. Backhaul equipment. 

Div-Z: Secure and mop line from top and bottom of division using natural barriers and established line. Complete suppression repair on non-primary dozer lines. Backhaul equipment.

Fire resources are also responsible for assisting local resources with initial attack.

 

Projected Incident Activity

12 hours: Very slight potential for flare ups in isolated small areas of dirty burns well inside the fire lines breezy west winds gusting to 30-35 MPH overnight with passing cold front. 

24 hours: West winds with gusts to 35 MPH will continue. Cooler with higher humidity lessen the effects of the breezy conditions. Very slight chance of flare ups interior to fire lines exists. Fire activity is anticipated to be minimal and limited to isolated smoldering large stumps and logs. There is a very slight chance of spotting with fire spread. 

48 hours: Continued breezy conditions with west winds gusting to 25 MPH. Very slight chance of flare ups interior to fire lines exist. Fire activity is anticipated to be minimal and limited to isolated smoldering large stumps and logs.

 

 

 

 

Remarks

Many resources were demobilized today and will continue tomorrow. Several resources were reassigned the Boulder Fire near Mt Hood, OR.

No air resources were required on the fire today and all aircraft will demob by end of shift.

Acres were reduced due to accurate mapping in the eastern portion in Div-G. 


The fire will transition to a Type 4 IC Tuesday at 0600. The IMT will closeout with the local unit at 1000 ours on Tuesday. 

 

 

 

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

Winds were not quite as breezy in the central Columbia River Gorge today compared to the past several days. Winds were mainly from the west-southwest sustained 5-10 mph gusting to 20 mph. Temperatures were a little warmer in the upper 70s to mid 80s, and the relative humidity was similar to yesterday and ranged from 35-43 percent. A passing shower early in the morning brought a trace amount of rain.
A cold front tonight will enhance the winds, and it will be very windy tonight through Tuesday. West winds will be sustained around 15-20 mph gusting to 35 mph. Instability and moisture ahead of the front will bring showers and thunderstorms along the Washington and Oregon border tonight, and there is a slight chance that one will develop over the fire.

Tuesday will be much cooler with higher humidity with temperatures in the 70s and the relative humidities in the 40s.