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Cowlitz Complex

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Unit Information

Gifford Pinchot National Forest 
1501 E. Evergreen Blvd. 
Vancouver, 
Washington 
98682 
Gifford Pinchot National Forest 
1501 E. Evergreen Blvd. 
Vancouver, 
Washington 
98682 

Incident Contacts

  • Fire Information Office
    Email:
    2023.cowlitzcomplex@firenet.gov
    Phone:
    360-208-8075
    Hours:
    7:00 AM-7:00 PM

Photographs Gallery

Muddy grounds at Cowlitz Complex ICP
Muddy grounds at Cowlitz Complex ICP
Muddy grounds at Cowlitz Complex ICP
Muddy grounds at Cowlitz Complex ICP

Muddy grounds at Cowlitz Complex ICP

Cowlitz Complex Incident Command Post Rain Guage September 26, 2023
Cowlitz Complex Incident Command Post Rain Guage September 26, 2023
Cowlitz Complex Incident Command Post Rain Guage September 26, 2023
Cowlitz Complex Incident Command Post Rain Guage September 26, 2023

Cowlitz Complex Incident Command Post Rain Guage September 26, 2023

Excavator Working at the Cowlitz Complex September 25, 2023
Excavator Working at the Cowlitz Complex September 25, 2023
Excavator Working at the Cowlitz Complex September 25, 2023
Excavator Working at the Cowlitz Complex September 25, 2023

Excavator Working at the Cowlitz Complex September 25, 2023

Incident Commander Wakoski Leads the Pledge of Allegiance.
Image shows a silhouette of Incident Commander Mike Wakoski in front of an American Flag.
Image shows a silhouette of Incident Commander Mike Wakoski in front of an American Flag.
Incident Commander Wakoski Leads the Pledge of Allegiance.

Photo of the Day: California Incident Management Team 13 Incident Commander Mike Wakoski leads the Pledge of Allegiance before the Cowlitz Complex Morning Briefing. Saluting the flag every morning on incidents is one of the many legacies IC Wakoski established during his career.

Duff Layer Includes Volcanic Ash Layers
A Close look at the duff layer near Grassy Mountain Fire shows ash from previous volcanic eruption.
A Close look at the duff layer near Grassy Mountain Fire shows ash from previous volcanic eruption.
Duff Layer Includes Volcanic Ash Layers

A closer look at the duff layer near Grassy Mountain Fire shows ash from previous volcanic eruption.

Grassy Mountain Fire Smoke through the trees.
Smoke drifts through the timber on the Grassy Mountain Fire.
Smoke drifts through the timber on the Grassy Mountain Fire.
Grassy Mountain Fire Smoke through the trees.

Smoke rising from the Grassy Mountain Fire on Sept 21, 2023, as seen from the helispot. 

Dozer Line on the Cowlitz Complex
Firefighters construct contingency lines to form a barrier between the fire and communities. The lines are created by dozers and hand crews and will be rest
Firefighters construct contingency lines to form a barrier between the fire and communities. The lines are created by dozers and hand crews and will be rest
Dozer Line on the Cowlitz Complex

Firefighters construct contingency lines to form a barrier between the fire and communities. The lines are created by dozers and hand crews and will be rest

Dozer along the grassy Mountain Contingency Line
A bulldozer is used to create contingency/indirect line near the Grassy Mountain Fire on September 19
A bulldozer is used to create contingency/indirect line near the Grassy Mountain Fire on September 19
Dozer along the grassy Mountain Contingency Line

A bulldozer is used to create contingency/indirect line near the Grassy Mountain Fire on September 19 

Hot Can Dinner at the Pine Valley Spike Camp, Cowlitz Complex.
Firefighters line up to eat at Pine Creek Spike Camp. Crews are stationed there because they are working the southern fires, saving daily travel time from the main fire camp. Their meals come in "hot cans" (the round cardboard in the foreground) from off site, allowing crews to enjoy a hot meal after a long shift.
Firefighters line up to eat at Pine Creek Spike Camp. Crews are stationed there because they are working the southern fires, saving daily travel time from the main fire camp. Their meals come in "hot cans" (the round cardboard in the foreground) from off site, allowing crews to enjoy a hot meal after a long shift.
Hot Can Dinner at the Pine Valley Spike Camp, Cowlitz Complex.

Firefighters line up to eat at Pine Creek Spike Camp. Crews are stationed there because they are working the southern fires, saving daily travel time from the main fire camp. Their meals come in "hot cans" (the round cardboard in the foreground) from off site, allowing crews to enjoy a hot meal after a long shift.

Thick Duff Layer Near the Grassy Mountain Fire
Image of the “duff layer" near the Grassy Mountain Fire. The duff layer is made up of organic matter such as leaves, needles, limbs, and decomposing trees. Below that is an ash layer from volcanic eruption. It takes a lot of rain to penetrate the duff layer. The Cowlitz Complex fires are mainly “surface fires,” which means the fires are burning and smoldering at ground level rather than in the trees.
Image of the “duff layer" near the Grassy Mountain Fire. The duff layer is made up of organic matter such as leaves, needles, limbs, and decomposing trees. Below that is an ash layer from volcanic eruption. It takes a lot of rain to penetrate the duff layer. The Cowlitz Complex fires are mainly “surface fires,” which means the fires are burning and smoldering at ground level rather than in the trees.
Thick Duff Layer Near the Grassy Mountain Fire

Image of the “duff layer" near the Grassy Mountain Fire. The duff layer is made up of organic matter such as leaves, needles, limbs, and decomposing trees. Below that is an ash layer from volcanic eruption. It takes a lot of rain to penetrate the duff layer. The Cowlitz Complex fires are mainly “surface fires,” which means the fires are burning and smoldering at ground level rather than in the trees.

Crews work to create fireline on the Grassy Mountain Fire
Image shows firefighters working to create an opening through a heavily forested areas.
Image shows firefighters working to create an opening through a heavily forested areas.
Crews work to create fireline on the Grassy Mountain Fire

Firefighter work to create an opening through heavy brush and timber on the Grassy Mountain Fire.

Team 13 Incident Management Team
California Team 13 logl
California Team 13 logl
Team 13 Incident Management Team
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