Incidents All News

  Yesterday: The Goat Rocks Fire area was enveloped in a smoke inversion for much of the day. This stagnant air moderated fire activity but restricted air operations due to poor visibility. A helicopter was able to drop water on the fire for a short period in the afternoon.

EVACUATION LEVEL 2 – BE SET! All areas north of Butter Creek are at Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation. This includes Upper and Lower Timberline, Goat Rocks, Riverdance, and parts of High Valley. This is precautionary due to Goat Rocks Fire behavior. Packwood proper is not under evacuation status at this time. See accompanying Public Information map.Monitor https://bit.ly/LewisCountyAlerts or https://bit.ly/LewisCountyEMFB for changes.

EVACUATION LEVEL 2 – BE SET! All areas north of Butter Creek are at Level 2* (Be Set) evacuation. This includes Upper and Lower Timberline, Goat Rocks, River Dance, and parts of High Valley. This is precautionary due to Goat Rocks Fire behavior. Packwood proper is not under evacuation status at this time. See accompanying Public Information map.Monitor https://bit.ly/LewisCountyAlerts or https://bit.ly/LewisCountyEMFB for changes.

NEW EVACUATION LEVELS: LEVEL 2 – BE SET! The evacuation levels for Goat Rocks Fire have changed: All areas north of Butter Creek are at Level 2* (Be Set) evacuation. This includes Upper and Lower Timberline, Goat Rocks, River Dance, and parts of High Valley. This is a precautionary level change due to the Red Flag warning and Goat Rocks wildfire behavior. Packwood proper is not under evacuation status at this time. See accompanying Public Information map.

 RED FLAG WARNING: The Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning that goes into effect as of 11 am Saturday, October 15 until 5 pm Sunday, October 16. This is due to a combination of unseasonably warm temperatures, dry conditions, and average wind speeds along ridges at 15 mph. Gusts may reach 25 mph. Easterly winds will pick up Saturday morning and then peak Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. Please monitor emergency alert notifications.

NOTE: The Packwood Fire Department will be hosting a Firewise USA Information Session on Friday, October 14, 2022 at 6 P.M. at the Packwood Fire Department station, 123953 US 12. The Goat Rocks Fire Incident Management Organization will provide a brief update on the fire at this event.

Highlights: Firefighters continue prioritizing structure protection. Crews have completed chipping in the northern portion of the fire. Hotshots have advanced the control lines into the Three Peaks Trail system as far as is feasible, given the terrain and other safety conditions.

Firefighting Efforts: Crews are implementing hazardous fuels reduction along Forest Road 1266, Forest Road 4612, Forest Road 041, and the Three Peaks trail system. Firefighters are patrolling near communities closest to the fire, testing and refining sprinklers and hose lays. The structure protection specialist finalized the coordinated response plan, and crews are rehearsing it. Aerial attack was able to continue yesterday, but to a lesser degree given the high winds. Helicopters will perform additional bucket work today given the weather cooperates.

Highlights: Fire growth continues to be primarily in areas where the fire is closing in on itself, slowly creeping and smoldering along the forest floor. While today’s temperatures will be much lower than yesterday, wind speed will be faster with gusts to 25 mph possible.

A Type 3 Incident Management Organization, led by Incident Commander Ryan Erne and Incident Commander Trainee Jason Lanier assumed command of the Goat Rocks Fire at 6:00 p.m. last night. Fire Activity: The fire continues to grow about 100 to 150 acres a day, but is mostly closing in on itself. That is to say, areas where the fire has previously formed “fingers” are burning toward one another, at a very slow pace.  It is creeping and smoldering through extremely thick duff, which is resulting in continued smoke in the air.