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Tunnel Creek Fire Quick Facts

Size: 533 acres

Origin: 2.25 mi W of White Salmon, WA

Resources: 31 Engines; 5 crews; 5 helicopters; 4 single-engine air

Containment: 5%

Cause: Under Investigation           

Total personnel: 189             

Start Date: July 2, 2023                            

There will be a virtual community meeting on the Southwest Washington Fire Information Facebook page on Wednesday, July 5th at 5 PM.

Weather: Temperatures today over the fire area will be in the low 90s, with very low relative humidity. Winds this morning will be northeast at 8-12 mph, changing to southeast in the afternoon, with gusts up to 15 mph.

Operations: Management of the Tunnel Five Fire transitioned to Northwest Incident Management Team 12 at 8 PM last night. Yesterday, helicopters and single-engine “fire boss” air tankers were used extensively to cool and dampen fire activity. Firefighters mopped up and secured along the Cook-Underwood Road to keep the fire in check. On the eastern edge of the fire, helicopters worked water bucket drops while firefighters built dozer line around the fire perimeter. Fire crews also worked putting in dozer line around the old mill site near the Columbia River. The steep terrain contributes to the possibility of fire spreading by burning fuels rolling downslope; firefighters remained vigilant overnight, patrolling the fire perimeter and watching for hot spots.

Additional resources are expected today, including hand crews, heavy equipment, and five strike teams of fire engines. The incoming fire engines will augment the state mobilization resources already on scene, and some engine crews will work on structure assessments on the north/northeastern fire perimeter. Firefighters will improve dozer line on the eastern fire edge and will install hoselays today to deliver water along the eastern fire perimeter. Helicopters and fixed-wing air tankers will continue to be used as needed today to hold the fire in check and assist ground crews. Firefighters on the Tunnel Five Fire will also be available to assist with initial attack on new fire starts in the area.

Anyone that has video footage of the start of the Tunnel Five Fire on July 2, please contact Northwest Team 12 at the contact number or email below.

Safety and Closures: Washington State Route 14 is closed between mile markers 53-63 due to fire activity. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Tunnel Five Fire area. Wildland fires are a “no fly zone” for drones. If you fly, WE CAN’T. Smoke and aircraft are visible within the I-84 corridor. Travelers should use caution; recreationalists and boaters in the Columbia River in this area should use extreme caution and avoid areas where aircraft are dipping in the river.

Evacuations: Level 3 Evacuations “GO NOW” have been issued for a two-mile radius around the fire. Visit Skamania County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SkamaniaSheriff for more info. A shelter for evacuees has been set up at Skamania County Fairgrounds, 710 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA. Level 1 “GET READY” evacuations are in effect for Klickitat County east of the fire. Visit https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management for more details.