Single Publication

Williams Mine Fire Update for Friday, September 6, 2024

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the Williams Mine Fire area. This warning will remain in effect until 11:00 p.m. today. The warning was issued due to expected wind, low relative humidity, and unstable conditions. There is also a Heat Advisory through 9:00 p.m. Saturday.

Fire activity has increased the last couple of days and nights as fuels have dried out and become more receptive to burning. The winds from the east have helped the fire move west from the Morrison Creek drainage up Crofton Ridge. This and other burning areas produced ample smoke yesterday. During the afternoon, the smoke began to drift downslope into the valleys, obscuring Mt. Adams and producing poor air quality.

There have been large unburned islands inside the fire perimeter. The largest pocket, between Morrison Creek and Crofton Ridge, plus some smaller areas burned yesterday, pushed by the wind and backing into it. Most of these unburned pockets are expected to be cleaned up by the fire sooner or later. Since they are surrounded by areas that have already had the fire consume most of the fuels, these interior flareups are of little concern to fire personnel. These areas are monitored, but rarely merit any suppression actions.

A helicopter continues to drop water on the eastern edge of the fire in the Mt. Adams Wilderness, trying to slow this edge’s progression to the east. The objective is to keep the fire west of South Climb Trail and off of the Yakama Reservation.

FS Rd 23 is still closed while fire personnel complete work on it as a contingency line. Excavators and dump trucks are on the road moving limbs and brush and clearing ditches.  A hand crew will be working along the road, cutting brush that machines couldn’t reach safely.

SAFETY AND CLOSURES: 

A Red Flag Warning indicates that conditions may be favorable for rapid fire spread which may threaten life and property. Use extra caution with potential ignition sources, especially in grassy areas.

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. FS Rd 23 south of FS Rd 90 is still CLOSED to the public due to fire suppression activity. Takhlakh Lake is still closed. 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 Rd 23 to Potato Hill. The current area closure spans the entire Mt. Adams Wilderness.