Single Publication

Williams Mine Fire Update for Thursday, August 29, 2024

The USFS issued a revised closure order for Williams Mine Fire yesterday. FS RD 23 south of FS Rd 90 is still CLOSED to the public due to fire suppression activity. The section north of the FS Rd 23/FS Rd 90 junction has reopened. This will allow traffic between Trout Lake and Randle via FS Rd 90 and FS Rd 88.

Yesterday was the local Type 3 Incident Management Team’s first full day on the Williams Mine Fire. They continued work to secure the fire, including fuels abatement on contingency lines along FS Rd 23 and other roads. More suppression repair work was also completed, including erosion control. The team will be constantly reviewing plans for future activities and adjusting these plans as needed to provide safe and effective fire suppression efforts.

Heavy equipment is operating along FS Rd 23 and other roads, working on the shaded fuel break and slash removal. Additional equipment has been ordered to continue this work as some operators reach the end of their work assignments. Hand crews are patrolling the fire edges, searching for residual heat to extinguish. They are also serving as lookouts to keep an eye out for signs of increasing fire activity or spot fires outside containment lines.

With the warmer weather, more smoke has been visible from the fire. A reconnaissance flight yesterday found none of the areas with active burning posed a threat to the current containment lines. Hot and dry weather is forecast for the Labor Day weekend, which is likely to cause a greater increase in fire activity. Smoke may be visible from local communities. The Williams Mine Fire will be monitored by ground and by air as needed, and suppression action will be taken if fire threatens to spread past containment lines or too rapidly elsewhere. Helicopters are available if needed for water drops.

SAFETY AND CLOSURES: 

Traffic will be heavier over the Labor Day weekend. Drive carefully and watch for inattentive and impaired drivers. Locals, fire traffic, and tourists need to share the road, safely.

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area is currently closed, please see Yakama Tract D Road Closure for more information.  The revised closure for the Mt. Adams Wilderness and FS Rd 23 closure can be found at Williams Mine Fire: Area and Road Closure. 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.