Single Publication

Williams Mine Fire Update for Sunday, August 18, 2024 

CURRENT STATUS:  

Yesterday’s thunderstorm produced an average of ½ inch of rain with lightning and 1-inch hail across Trout Lake and within parts of the fire perimeter. With concerns about lightning, rain, and strong winds creating the possibility of downed trees and powerlines, fire personnel were staged in safe locations during the storms, with strategic access points to assist with any new emerging incidents. Firefighters remained available for initial attack of any potential new fires from new lightning strikes. Night shift resources were also staged for the evening where they could stay safe but respond as needed. Aerial resources will be used today for recon to determine if any lightning strikes generated any new ignitions. 

Today, crews are returning to the line to assess road conditions and continue securing the fire area. The added moisture from yesterday will expedite mop-up operations throughout the day. 

Firefighters from the Yukon Territory in Canada arrived at the Williams Mine Fire and received a full incident briefing before beginning firefighting operations. This sharing of resources is critical during times when the National Preparedness Level is 5, the highest rating, due to lack of resources to commit to fires across the western United States. The international firefighting community has been essential in coordinated suppression efforts during the last several years of intense fire activity in the Pacific Northwest. Delegations from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have provided personnel during the most active burning times of year to provide relief to local geographic areas. 

WEATHER / FIRE BEHAVIOR: 

The higher humidity and rain will reduce fire activity in the short term. Through the next few days, there may be an increase in fire activity as temperatures warm and fuels dry. This will likely occur in the larger dead and down fuels within the 2012 Cascade Creek and 2015 Cougar Creek fire burn scars, as well as under the canopy of trees where rain was unable to fully penetrate. 

Today, temperatures will be moderate, with relative humidity in the 40% to 50% range accompanied by down slope gusting winds. 

SAFETY AND CLOSURES:   

Washington DNR managed lands near Trout Lake and Glenwood are closed to entry due to the Williams Mine Fire. For more information, please see http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area is closed, please see Yakama Tract D Road Closure for more information. Level 1 & 2 evacuations are in effect for the community of Trout Lake, and parts of Klickitat County. Evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office. The FS-23 and FS-25 roads are closed, see the Williams Mine Area and Road Closure for more details. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from the PCT's intersection with FS 23 to Potato Hill. The current area closure spans the entire Mt. Adams Wilderness.