Single Publication

Morning Update, July 28, 2023

Estimated size: 61,313 acres

Containment: 71%

Start Date: July 21, 2023

Area of Origin: Klickitat County near Newell Road

Cause: Under Investigation

Structures Damaged: Currently being assessed

Fire Update: Fire activity has remained minimal with only a few interior smokes and hotspots to extinguish. Firefighters continue to take advantage of favorable weather conditions (higher humidity, lower temperature, lighter winds) to improve and secure control lines. Fire containment is now at 71% and is expected to continue to increase as suppression work continues. Although the strength of containment is increasing, smoke coming from the interior of the fire (sometimes miles inside containment lines) is likely to be visible.

Today’s planned activity: Firefighters will continue to mop-up and secure containment lines along the entire perimeter of the fire. Air operations will be conducting an aerial reconnaissance over the fire this morning to provide ground operations information in support of suppression efforts, including identification of areas for future suppression repairs. If needed, firefighters will use air resources to conduct water drops on interior hotspots. The fire spike (remote) camp at Bickleton School will be closing at the end of shift today and all resources staying there will be reporting to Goldendale this evening.

Transfer of command of the fire operation planned for Sunday: The overall objective for future management of the fire suppression efforts is to have the fire sufficiently secured and contained to allow for the transfer of management back to local fire and agency resources on Sunday morning. Fire resources no longer required to meet containment objectives are being demobed (released) so they can be reassigned to other fires or return to their home bases. Northwest Incident Management Team 8 wishes to thank all of the fire resources for their efforts!

Evacuations: Bickleton and Cleveland area residents are advised that the evacuation route is now to the northeast to Grandview. For the latest evacuation information, please see: https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management .

Road closure updates: As of 5 PM yesterday, Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) updated the road closure conditions related to the Newell Road Fire.  Please refer to the Klickitat DEM Facebook and Website for the most current closure information: https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management .

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): TFR is in place over the Newell Road Fire. 

Sheltering: The American Red Cross in Goldendale is on standby. If needed, a second shelter has opened at Grandview Middle School: 1401 W 2nd St, Grandview, WA.