Kalama Fire Update – October 6, 2022
Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southwest of Mount St. Helens near the town of Cougar, WA, is approximately 454 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 remains moderate, and the fire is keeping within containment lines. Today's planned actions will be to continue indirect work on the containment lines and to further develop contingency lines on Forest Service and private lands. Helicopters will drop water on hot spots in the eastern portion of the fire to help moderate fire behavior as it backs and flanks to containment lines. Brushing will take place along Forest Road 81 where crews are working to thin trees.
Weather: Warm and dry conditions continue as an upper high-pressure ridge persists. Today's high is expected to be around 80 degrees with a minimum relative humidity of 30 - 35 percent. Light winds out of the Southeast are expected today. 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: 454 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
Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/gp/fire
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