Fire Activity: Yesterday’s wind and fire activity tested the control lines, all of which successfully held. The fire consumed additional vegetation in the Coal Creek drainage, reducing the chance that it will cross the control lines in the future. Last night’s humidity was lower than normal, meaning that the fire will be more active earlier today.

Firefighting Efforts: Engine patrols are continuing both day and night, throughout communities closest to the fire and along US-12. A combination of handlines and dozers line now provides communities with four layers of control/contingency lines. Firefighters are in place near structures, testing sprinklers and patrolling.

Weather: Winds today will be lighter, with an average of 9 mph and gusts up to 15 mph. Easterly winds continue to bring in dry air. Relative humidity remains low, dropping to 24%. Temperatures in the fire area will peak around 80 degrees, while it will be 85-87 degrees in Packwood.

Highlights: The fire will likely become more active today as drier and gustier winds arrive from the east. Control lines continue to hold.  Firefighters have established a contingency line in between the fire and the communities near the fire. Engines are patrolling in the community and along US Highway 12 throughout the day and night. A structure protection specialist is working with Lewis County on coordinating an emergency response plan, while staging for tonight’s increased winds. Local agencies are also on standby to provide additional structure protection if needed. Some engines and crews are timing out, but they are being replaced with fresh firefighters who are arriving from across the country. Aerial attack continues, especially in the Coal Creek drainage.   

Weather: Winds are coming from the east today and are higher than recent days. They will average 12 mph throughout the day, but gusts may reach 20 mph. These drier east winds will lower relative humidity levels to about 20%. The high for today is 82 degrees. The weather forecast calls for temperatures to remain in the upper 70s and lower 80s through Sunday. As of now, Monday will bring in cooler temperatures, with a high of 68 degrees.

Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set).

Emergency Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://bit.ly/LewisCountyAlerts.

Forest Closures: A road and trail closure within the Gifford National Forest is in place. Closure order: https://bit.ly/GoatRocksClosureOrder
Closure map: https://bit.ly/GoatRocksFireClosureMap

Community Meeting: Please join Nevada Incident Management Team 4 and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for a Community Meeting on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Attendees can either join in-person at the Packwood Fire Department (2953 US 12) or online via Facebook live (@GiffordPinchot).

Community Meeting: Please join Nevada Incident Management Team 4 and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for a Community Meeting on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Attendees can either join in-person at the Packwood Fire Department (2953 US 12) or online via Facebook live (@GiffordPinchot).

Fire Activity: As the inversion layer lifted yesterday, fire activity increased. Given that the fire has been creeping along the forest floor for almost two months, vegetation is increasingly dry. Some individual and groups of trees are igniting within the fire perimeter, producing columns of smoke. When today’s marine layer lifts, this pattern will continue.

Firefighting Efforts: The fire continues to push toward the ridge south of Coal Creek and Three Peaks trail, where crews and a bulldozer are hard at work bolstering control lines. The combination of hose lay, handline, and dozer line continues to hold the fire at the ridge. Firefighters continue to prioritize structure preparation and patrol near communities. An engine will patrol the communities and along US Highway 12 overnight. Nevada Incident Management Team 4 is designing contingency lines in between the control lines and the community. Helicopters continue bucket work south of the Coal Creek drainage. Moderate fire spread is possible for the next several days.

Weather: Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler today, with a high of 75 degrees. This morning’s marine layer will increase relative humidity to about 30% and will moderate fire activity at lower elevations. The high-pressure system will remain in the region through the end of the week, keeping temperatures at or above the high 70s through Sunday. The forecast anticipates winds to remain light.

Highlights: There was increased fire activity yesterday, but the fire remains within control lines. Firefighters expected this change, as the hotter and drier days have dried out the fuels. There is more smoke coming from the Coal Creek drainage, which may continue for the next few days given the weather forecast. The Rogue River Hotshots and the Northwest Regulars Crew (Central Oregon) are using direct fireline tactics in that area, receiving additional suppression support from engines, a dozer and aerial bucket work. The dozer aims to finish the control line south of Coal Creek today. The fire also continues to emit increased smoke near Bluff Lake. Skies will remain smoky until the inversion layer lifts this afternoon.

Firefighters continue to prioritize establishing control lines, patrolling communities, and refining structure preparation. Crews are testing and adjusting hose lays around private structures. A structure protection specialist arrives today, further augmenting those efforts. Timber processing continues along Forest Road 46, and chippers are at work throughout the fire area.

Weather: Temperatures will remain unseasonably warm for the next few days, with daytime highs 78 to 81 degrees. Today’s afternoon cloud coverage should provide some shade to the fire footprint. Relative humidity will remain low, ranging from 25 to 27%. Winds continue to be light and terrain-driven. The high-pressure system will continue through the week.

Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set).

Emergency Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://bit.ly/LewisCountyAlerts.

Forest Closures: A road and trail closure within the Gifford National Forest is in place. Closure order: https://bit.ly/GoatRocksClosureOrder
Closure map: https://bit.ly/GoatRocksFireClosureMap

Fire Restrictions: Campfire bans and other use restrictions are in place across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campfires are allowed within certain campgrounds as identified on https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices.

Warmer temperatures and gusty east winds caused increased fire activity on the Goat Rocks Fire yesterday. Greater amounts of smoke were visible as the day progressed, winds picked up, and fuels grew drier. The fire stayed on the ground, creeping through surface fuels which still held some moisture from showers and high humidity earlier this week. No torching or rapid growth was seen.

Much of Saturday’s activity was east of Forest Road 4612, where fire has been spreading within containment lines for several days. The fire also grew in the upper Coal Creek drainage. A heavy helicopter dropped water on some hot areas before gusty winds made conditions too hazardous for flying.

Today is forecast to be a few degrees warmer and slightly drier than yesterday, but with less wind. This dry spell is expected to last for several more days, with high temperatures in the upper 70s and relative humidity dropping below 30%. Fuels will become more receptive to fire each day, and further increases in fire activity and smoke production are likely.

Fire managers are preparing for increased fire activity by bringing in fresh crews and engines. Some fire resources are being staged in Packwood, ready to respond to any area of the fire needing their assistance.

The protective hose lays in the Upper Timberline community are being assessed and reinforced where appropriate. Fuels are being reduced near the historic structures at Packwood Lake, and pumps, hoses, and other equipment are being set up to protect these buildings. Hazard tree cutting and woody debris chipping continue on Forest Road 46.

Today the Incident Command Post (ICP) or fire camp for the Goat Rocks Fire is moving from Randle to Packwood Community Hall. Fire managers have been right-sizing the Randle ICP for several days, removing surplus yurts, supplies, generators, portable toilets, hand-washing stations and more. Nevada Incident Management Team (IMT) 4 is a smaller Type 3 team, with fewer members than the Type 2 Northwest IMT 10. Some members of Northwest IMT 10 stayed to assist Nevada IMT 4 with Goat Rocks Fire, and are completing their assignments. Nevada IMT 4 will use this reduction in necessary workspace as an opportunity to shift ICP to a more central location.

Forest Closures: For information on current road and trail closures, you can go to this link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf

Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set).

Fire Restrictions: Campfire bans and other use restrictions are in place across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campfires are allowed within certain campgrounds identified on: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices 

Public Safety: Smoke may linger along US 12 at night and in the morning. Treat it like fog. Slow down and turn on your low-beam headlights to improve visibility.

Sign-up For Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/lewis-county-alert/

The percent of containment on a fire is one measure of progress, but not the only one. Completion of firefighting objectives is another measure of progress. These objectives include construction of control lines and protecting highly valued resources such as the Packwood community, sensitive tribal resources, and historic structures at Packwood Lake. This deliberate and methodical strategy is designed to achieve these protection goals without subjecting firefighters to unacceptable risk.

The Goat Rocks Fire was generally quiet yesterday, still affected by showers and high humidity earlier this week. As the inversion lifted and temperatures rose, the fire became more active and began to creep through fuels. Most spread was on slopes southeast of Forest Road 4612 and in upper Coal Creek drainage.

Yesterday, firefighters completed the hazard tree cutting along Forest Road 4612 and continued to chip woody debris along Forest Road 46. One of the “heavy” helicopters dropped water on residual heat in Coal Creek drainage toward US 12. The Rogue River Interagency Hotshot Crew evaluated historic structures at Packwood Lake for protection needs.

Today will be the start of a warming and drying trend with winds generally from the east. High temperatures are expected to be near 80 degrees with relative humidity dropping to 35%. These conditions will favor an increase in fire activity. The dry weather is expected to last into next week.

Today, winds are forecast up to 20 mph on ridgetops, with gusty winds expected most other places. The Incident Meteorologist will be watching closely to see how complex topography on and near the fire changes the wind. The east wind may be channeled along US 12 and down the Cowlitz River valley. Much of the Goat Rocks Fire may be sheltered from east wind by Beargrass Butte and other ridges. West winds may also push up the Cowlitz valley, creating battling winds and eddies on the west side of the fire. Firefighters will be monitoring shifts in the wind, watching how they impact the fire.

Most firefighters will be working in the vicinity of Coal Creek, where the fire poses the greatest threat to the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities. Some personnel and equipment will continue hazard tree cutting and chipping operations on Forest Road 46, and a woodchipper is expected to move to the Packwood Lake area. Hoses, structure wrap, and other protective materials will also be transported to Packwood Lake.

Firefighters continue to patrol the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities, and around the historic structures at Packwood Lake.

With no rain in the forecast and the ongoing warmer weather, fire managers are maintaining firefighting capabilities on Goat Rocks Fire. Fresh crews, engines, and other personnel are being brought in to replace resources that are reaching the end of their assignments. Additional resources can be ordered if needed to manage the fire.

Forest Closures: For information on current road and trail closures, you can go to this link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf

Cool temperatures and light precipitation had a calming affect on the Goat Rocks Fire yesterday. Although most precipitation didn’t make it past the tree canopies, higher humidity was absorbed into finer fuels like brush and small sticks. Large logs and stumps continued to burn, but with less intensity. The fire produced less smoke and did not spread. 
 
Today, fire activity will continue to be moderated by residual moisture in the air and in fuels. Temperatures are expected to rise into the 70s, with clearing skies. Warmer, drier air will start to move into the area again tomorrow, with winds from the east developing. High temperatures are expected to be around 80 degrees Monday and Tuesday. 
 
Ahead of this warm, dry weather, fire personnel are working to secure indirect containment lines. Most of these lines are being developed along existing roads where there is already a break in the fuels: the road. The objective is to remove enough trees and brush along lines that fire will be a low-intensity ground fire on the “black” side of the road or fire line, and will not cross to the “green” side of the line. This work is known as “line prep.”
 
To get rid of ladder fuels that can carry flames from the ground up into crowns of trees, which is called “torching”, firefighters cut lower limbs off trees and adjacent brush. They also cut some closely-spaced trees to reduce the chances of fire moving from tree to tree through their foliage or crowns. Crown fires are more destructive and much harder to stop than ground fires, and can move rapidly if pushed by wind. Nearly all of the Goat Rocks Fire has been a lower-intensity ground fire.
 
Dead trees or “snags” and other hazardous trees are cut along roads and other fire lines. These pose a risk to firefighters working near them, and can fall across a control line, carrying fire to the “green” side of the line.
Woody materials that have been cut may be chipped or moved to a safe location where they won’t become fuel for the fire. Smaller material like brush, limbs, and entire small trees are run through a woodchipper, with the resulting chips scattered on the ground on the “green” side of control lines where they will rot, adding nutrients to the forest.

Yesterday, fire personnel completed chipping operation on Forest Road 46 from US-12 up to the 46/4610 junction, and along Forest Road 4610 to the 4610/4612 junction. Hazard trees are still being cut along Forest Road 46 to the north.
 
Firefighters continue to patrol the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities, and around the historic structures at Packwood Lake.

Forest Closures: For information on current road and trail closures, you can go to this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf

Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set).

Fire Restrictions: Campfire bans and other use restrictions are in place across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campfires are allowed within certain campgrounds identified on: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices.

Public Safety: Watch for increased traffic as we head into the weekend.

Sign-up For Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/lewis-county-alert/

The percent of containment on a fire is one measure of progress, but not the only one. Completion of firefighting objectives is another measure of progress. These objectives include construction of control lines and protecting highly valued resources such as the Packwood community, sensitive tribal resources, and historic structures at Packwood Lake.  This deliberate and methodical strategy is designed to achieve these protection goals without subjecting firefighters to unacceptable risk.

The Goat Rocks Fire received some much-needed rain yesterday. Rainfall totaled one tenth of an inch as of 7 a.m. this morning. Most of the rain was intercepted by the crowns of trees in forested areas, with little precipitation reaching the ground-level fuels. These showers still helped calm the fire by raising the relative humidity, allowing fine fuels to absorb enough moisture to make them difficult to ignite. More rain is expected today.

Some moisture is reaching hot spots resulting in steam. This will create an increase in smoke coming from the fire. No growth was seen on the fire yesterday. The acreage listed above is based on information from an infrared flight that occurred late Tuesday, reflecting 123 acres of new fire spread. Due to the rain and cloud cover no infrared flight was attempted last night.