Kalama Fire Update October 5, 2022
Kalama Fire
Publication Type: News
10/26/2022
Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southwest of Mount St. Helens near the town of Cougar, WA, is approximately 443 acres in size and five percent contained. Containment lines have been completed. With the inability to safely mop up the fire’s edge, due to steep terrain and overhead hazards, containment percentages will remain low. Fire Behavior and Operations: Overall fire behavior is moderate and has been observed creeping, smoldering, and backing. Potential for large plume dominated fire growth remains low. Today's planned actions will be to continue indirect work on containment lines and work on contingency lines on Forest Service and private lands. Helicopters will drop water to help moderate fire behavior as it backs and flanks to containment lines. Weather: Warm and dry conditions continue as an upper high-pressure ridge persists. Today's high is expected to be 72 with a minimum relative humidity of 61 percent. Winds are expected to turn offshore Wednesday night through Thursday night and will remain below 10 mph. An offshore push is expected Friday afternoon. Closures: A signed Closure Order remains in place. View the Kalama Closure Map to see which roads and trails are closed, including: · Cinnamon Trail #204, Kalama Ski Trail #231, Toutle Trail #238, Fossil Trail #242, Kalama Falls Trail #242A · FS Road 81, from the junction with SR 503 spur to the junction with FS Road 8100-830 and all associated FS spur roads off FS Road 81 · FS Road 8117 and all associated FS spur roads off FS Road 8117 · FS Road 8122 and all associated FS spur roads off FS Road 812 Attention Climbers: *Access to Climbers Bivouac (and climbing route) is open. Evacuations: The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service and Washington Department of Natural Resources, has issued updated evacuation notifications for the Kalama Fire (which is not affecting the City of Kalama or residents along the Kalama River Road at this time). View an Evacuation Map for more information on the following and sign up for Cowlitz County Emergency Alerts: Level 2, Set Evacuation Level: · North to South: From the Headwaters of the South Fork of the Toutle River, south to Forest Road 7550. · East to West: From the Skamania County/Cowlitz County border west 5 miles into Cowlitz County. Level 1, Ready Evacuation Level: · North to South: South from Forest Road 7550 to south of Merrill Lake. · East to West: Skamania County/Cowlitz County border west 5 miles into Cowlitz County Size: 443 acres. Containment: 5% Cause: Under investigation. Personnel: 131 Resources: 2 Initial Attack Hand crews, 2 Hand crews, 2 Type 3 Engines, 1 Type 5 Engine, 3 Type 6 Engines, 2 Type 1 Helicopters, 1 Dozer, 4 Water tenders, 3 Masticators, 1 Excavator, 1 Chippers, 1 Self-loading log truck, 1 Feller Buncher, 3 EMTs, 1 Ambulance, 1 Falling Team Fire Information Phone Line: 360-449-7874 Public Information Officer: Gala Miller 360-524-1724 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8420 Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/gp/fire
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