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Firefighters boosted containment of the Four Corners Fire to 28% Monday, as they strengthened fireline near Wilson Peak. Warm, dry conditions teamed up with steep slopes and heavy timber to produce an active fire day. Fire growth was just about 1,000 acres. A significant effort focused on the southwest end of Lake Cascade above private property, cooling hot spots with helicopter bucket drops and hard work from hand crews. Scoopers did not drop water on the fire yesterday due to limited visibility.  They require three miles of clear visibility to work over the fire.

Crews were able to keep the fire perimeter in check at the southern part of the fire, in the Willow Creek area. Sawyers are working to remove hazardous trees so firefighters can work in the area more safely, and brush removal continues on roads in the area. Loggers were able to haul log decks from the Moore Moth timber sale, protecting the timber’s value and reducing the heavy fuel load from the area.

Today’s weather will have above average temperatures and low humidity but light winds. Winds pick up Wednesday and Thursday, with gusts of up to 20 miles per hour forecast for Friday. Firefighters will be vigilant in making sure the elevated fire weather and winds do not increase fire activity in areas previously burned, and they are prepared to take action wherever necessary. While some crews will be dedicated to monitoring and patrolling the fireline that has been established, other crews will be working to build containment line to the south, where natural features, topography, and vegetation are favorable. Among the actions they will take will be digging handline, using equipment to remove vegetation, and conducting small burnouts, allowing fire to slowly consume vegetation under desirable conditions to reduce intensity and create containment lines where it’s effective to do so.

Air Quality:  Around Cascade, smoke may once again reach unhealthy, and even very unhealthy, levels in the morning and evening.  Limiting outdoor physical activity when air quality deteriorates to these levels is advised.  Specific information about local smoke levels, forecasts, and possible health impacts is available at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/cc0ac676/.

Evacuation Information: Team 4 and Valley County Sheriff are coordinating the continuous evaluation of current evacuations and will alter them as safe to do so.  As of now, evacuation orders (Go) are still in place for residents of Campbell Creek and French Creek.  God’s Acres residents are in the pre-evacuation stage (Set). Others in the vicinity are encouraged to consider evacuation preparations (Ready). Please visit www.wildlandfirersg.org for information on packing and preparing for evacuations. For more information on evacuations and local support, call the Valley County Sheriff's Office at 208.382.5160.