Single Publication

Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Firefighters have finished removing fuels around structures closest to the fire and are patrolling those neighborhoods.   Although the fire had moderate growth, yesterday’s successful burning operation further strengthened control lines between the fire’s edge and highly-valued resources.  As of this morning the fire is being held at the 4610 Road, about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Fire managers are prioritizing firefighter and public safety as they continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; today, 85% of indirect control lines have been completed.   

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, conditions were favorable for the burning operation that had to be paused on Tuesday due to potentially unstable weather and winds. Firefighters carefully applied fire to clear vegetation further reinforcing fire breaks by removing fuels between the fire’s edge and control lines at the 4610 and 4612 Roads in and around the Coal Creek drainage. On the fire’s northwest corner near Bluff Lake, fire behavior was more active due to windy, warm and dry conditions. Fire managers monitored additional hot spots around Dam Creek and in the Lava Creek area; helicopters applied water to slow the fire. In addition, crews finished clearing a helicopter landing spot on the fire’s northern edge, providing more rapid access in the event of a field emergency.  Firefighters have finished work in the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities but are leaving fire protection equipment – hose lines and water tanks – in place as a contingency for firefighting efforts. Fire managers ask the public to leave the equipment where it is; crews will remove it when appropriate.  
Today, a crew will be patrolling Timberline and Goat Rocks while the rest of the personnel previously working on structure protection will be reassigned to the fire’s western edges. There, firefighters will monitor the areas of yesterday’s burning operation. Work will continue strengthening control lines with heavy equipment on forest roads around the fire’s north and west perimeters.  

Forest Closures: For information on current road and trail closures, you can go to this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf 

Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set). 
Fire Restrictions: Campfire bans and other use restrictions are in place across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campfires are allowed within certain campgrounds identified on: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices. 

Weather: Cooler temperatures and rising humidity are forecast for Thursday and Friday as the weather shifts to an onshore pattern with light westerly winds until Sunday when warmer conditions and an easterly flow are expected.  

Public Safety: This National Preparedness Month, we are reminding you to develop an emergency communications plan with your family. Decide now how you will check-in with one another if regular communications channels are unavailable. To learn more, visit: https://www.ready.gov/ 

Sign-up For Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/lewis-county-alert/ 

The percent of containment on a fire is one measure of progress, but not the only one. Completion of firefighting objectives is another measure of progress. These objectives include construction of control lines and protecting highly valued resources such as the Packwood community, sensitive tribal resources, and historic structures at Packwood Lake.  This deliberate and methodical strategy is designed to achieve these protection goals without subjecting firefighters to unacceptable risk.