Single Publication

Fire Size:  1,869
Resources Assigned:  496
Containment:  12% 

 CAMAS, Wash. – Weather conditions overnight aided firefighters on the Nakia Creek Fire, once again decreasing natural fire behavior. Between cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and minimal wind, flare-ups on the line were minimal and crews were able to steadily continue creating containment lines and mopping up hot spots that have the potential to spread. Overall, containment remains at 12%, and the size of the fire has slightly increased to 1,869 acres, up just 73 acres from Tuesday morning. This small growth is expected as resources work to complete fire lines. 
Weather continues to be a big factor in the Oregon Department of Forestry IMT 2’s operational planning. On Monday, dense fog and smoky conditions hindered the use of aircraft, removing the use of a vital resource assigned to the incident. Today, there’s significantly less fog and smoke in the area, and managers are hopeful that aircraft will be able to fly the fire, dropping water on areas that are difficult and sometimes dangerous to reach on the ground. Four Type 1 helicopters, three Type 2 helicopters, two CL415 water scooper planes and an air attack platform remain assigned to the fire and additional aircraft are available to call in if needed. 
Firefighters working on the ground today are continuing to complete fire line and bolster existing containment lines to keep the fire in check. This is extremely hard work that often involves hiking on steep terrain with a 45-pound backpack, hand tools, chainsaws and water throughout a 12-hour shift. Firefighters use these tools to break up vegetation so spreading fire hits the bare dirt and can’t grow beyond that point. This is the most important work at this stage in the fire in order to keep its size as small as possible. Safety on the line and on the roads surrounding the fire remains a top priority. 
 
Looking forward, firefighters are monitoring the incoming weather patterns, including a slight increase of east winds and warmer temperatures predicted on Thursday. Flare-ups are more likely to occur in these conditions, and these factors are being discussed in both the team’s 48- and 72-hour operations plans. On Friday, rain is expected to start and continue into the weekend, which, while helpful in extinguishing hot spots, presents its own safety challenges, particularly on steep, muddy terrain.
 
Evacuations: Evacuation levels from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office are being evaluated daily but have not changed as of 9 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2022. Residents can search their address for current evacuation levels here: https://tinyurl.com/NakiaCreekEvacs
 Evacuations also include the Larch Mountain Corrections Center. Please check with the Washington Department of Corrections for further information. 
 Sign up for county alerts: http://cresa911.org/emergency-management/alerts-warnings/