Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Single Publication

Settings - change map background and toggle additional layers
Filter - control incident types displayed on map.
Zoom to your location
Reset map zoom and position

Could not determine your location.

  • wildfire Wildfire
  • prescribed fire Prescribed Fire
  • burned area emergency response Burned Area Response
  • other type Other

Goat Rocks Fire

Share this incident
Facebook Twitter Email

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

  • Information Officer
    Email:
    2022.goatrocks@firenet.gov
    Phone:
    360-370-4168
    Hours:
    M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Goat Rocks Fire Update for September 29, 2022

Goat Rocks Fire
Publication Type: News 09/29/2022

The Goat Rocks Fire received some much-needed rain yesterday. Rainfall totaled one tenth of an inch as of 7 a.m. this morning. Most of the rain was intercepted by the crowns of trees in forested areas, with little precipitation reaching the ground-level fuels. These showers still helped calm the fire by raising the relative humidity, allowing fine fuels to absorb enough moisture to make them difficult to ignite. More rain is expected today.

Some moisture is reaching hot spots resulting in steam. This will create an increase in smoke coming from the fire. No growth was seen on the fire yesterday. The acreage listed above is based on information from an infrared flight that occurred late Tuesday, reflecting 123 acres of new fire spread. Due to the rain and cloud cover no infrared flight was attempted last night.


Large fuels, including logs and stumps, are still very dry. They will continue to burn until fully consumed, soaked by rain and snow, or extinguished by firefighters near containment lines. Most fire spread to date has been through these large fuels, not the finer fuels. Recent rain may have tamped down the open flames, but fire activity will increase again as the moisture dissipates.

The weather will turn warmer and drier Friday, with another east wind episode starting this weekend. This system is forecast to be a little cooler and not quite as dry as the system that passed through the area earlier this week. It is expected to produce an increase in fire activity. The east wind episode is forecasted to extend into next week before higher humidity returns.

On Wednesday, fire personnel completed “brushing” Forest Road 066 to Packwood Lake. They cut brush and limbs sticking out into the road, making it safer and easier to drive to the structures at the lake. They also did repair work on Forest Road 018, including replacing the culvert at Purcell Creek. Hazard tree removal and chipping is ongoing along Forest Roads 46 and 4610, preparing them to be used as containment lines if the fire pushes to the west or north.

Firefighters continue to patrol the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities, and around the historic structures at Packwood Lake.

Helicopters assigned to the Goat Rocks Fire are shared with the Kalama Fire south of Mount St. Helens. They are also available to assist with fire detection and suppression in the local area.

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.

Public Safety: As rain moves through the area, watch out for slick roads. The first rains after a dry spell can wash oils, dust and other materials off of roads, creating a slippery film.

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.
Related Information:
Attachment Size
pict20220829-130114-0.pdf (166.93 KB) 166.93 KB
Return to top