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.

Yesterday, the Goat Rocks Fire burned actively but the fire’s spread was minimal. In the Coal Creek drainage, where fire pushed up to Three Peaks on Monday, the fire continued to consume logs and other heavy fuels on the ground. Throughout the day the fire moved down slopes where burning logs rolled downhill. Helicopters dropped water on hot spots to keep the fire in these areas in check. Younger stands of trees scattered throughout Coal Creek drainage continued to slow the fire’s spread to due reduced fuels on the ground.

In addition, the fire spread on slopes above Forest Road 4612, consuming ground fuels between previously burned areas. More smoke was visible in this location Tuesday. Over a dozen fire-weakened trees fell onto Forest Road 4612 over a 24-hour period.  As a result, personnel are minimizing use of the road except as a possible fire control line. There was also an increase in fire activity in the Dam Creek drainage on the northeast edge of the fire.

Tuesday afternoon, marine moisture began to move into the area bringing with it 20 mph wind gusts which fanned scattered pockets of burning fuels, creating more smoke. Rising humidity associated with this on shore front helped tamp down some fire activity. Today’s cold front will bring a high temperature in the 60’s and an increase in relative humidity levels. Showers are expected by mid-day today and will likely continue tonight and into Thursday morning. Friday is predicted to be the start of a period of normal fall weather, with warm days and good relative humidity recovery overnight.

Increased relative humidity and rain will slow the fire’s progression through finer fuels such as brush, small branches, and the duff layer on the ground. Fine fuels can absorb moisture in a matter of hours, making them harder to burn. The main fuels carrying the fire have been larger woody debris like logs and stumps. These will take days or even weeks of exposure to moisture before they become resistant to burning.

Firefighters continue to work to cool the western tip of the fire in the Coal Creek drainage, with the goal of keeping the fire within established fire lines. Timber fallers are cutting hazard trees along Forest Road 46 to improve safety and reduce the chance of a burning live or dead tree falling across the road. Chipping and other fuels reduction work continues along Forest Road 46 and has been completed along Forest Road 1266. Firefighters continue to patrol the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities, and around the historic structures at Packwood Lake.

The Goat Rocks Fire burned actively Monday but stayed within established containment lines. Most growth and firefighting activities were concentrated near the southwest portion of the fire, between Purcell Creek and the Coal Creek drainages. Areas around Lava Creek and Dam Creek were under smoke all day which helped to reduce fire activity in those drainages.

Yesterday fire activity increased as temperatures rose, relative humidity dropped, and winds from the south fanned the fire. The fire burned through larger fuels and slowed where it moved into stands of young trees with less fuel on the ground. Fire that crossed to the south side of Coal Creek on Sunday made a push up slope to the southeast toward Three Peaks. The increased fire activity began Monday morning when heavy smoke still covered the area. Heavy smoke reduces visibility hindering aerial resource’s ability to drop water on a fire safely. After the smoke lifted later in the day, helicopters were able to drop water in the Coal Creek drainage helping to slow the fire’s spread and reduce damage to timber and other resources. 

Today’s weather is expected to be a little cooler with a slight uptick in humidity. Smoke from the fire will be slower to clear out of the Cowlitz River Valley. The fire is expected to burn actively again throughout the day, especially in the Coal Creek drainage and east of Forest Road 4612. Fire has not spread west of Forest Road 4612, but an increase in trees falling onto the road have created hazardous working conditions for firefighters and hindered work in that area. 

Firefighters are currently working to cool the western tip of the fire in the Coal Creek drainage, with the goal of keeping the fire within established fire lines. Fire personnel continue to work along the Forest Roads 46 and 4610, preparing them to be used as control lines should the fire spread further to the west and north. Patrols continue working in the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities and around the historic structures at Packwood Lake. An additional Type 1 “Heavy” helicopter has been assigned to the Goat Rocks Fire. 

Marine moisture is expected to move into the Goat Rocks Fire vicinity on Wednesday, bringing much cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity. There is a chance of showers late Wednesday into Thursday. Any precipitation or increase in humidity will make fine fuels including the duff layer and brush slower to ignite. Large fuels like logs and stumps that have been the main drivers of this fire will need extensive moisture before they will stop burning. 

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 out for smoke across US-12 and local roads. Slow down and use low-beam headlights to increase your 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.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from noon to 7 p.m. for the Goat Rocks Fire and vicinity. Gusty winds from the east are expected to bring dry air into the area, with relative humidity falling into the upper teens and low 20% range. The weather is expected to stay dry Tuesday before a shift to more typical on-shore flow brings in cooler, more humid air and possibly light showers later this week.

The warm, dry weather today and tomorrow will lead to an increase in fire activity and smoke production. Some fire spread is expected as burning trees and logs fall or roll down the slopes and fire makes short runs up slopes. Some torching of individual trees or small groups of trees is likely, but fire is mostly consuming ground fuels. These fuels, including the duff layer of rotting wood, leaves and needles, fallen branches and logs, and green brush, burn more readily when dry. The fire is not expected to make large runs or gain much acreage despite the adverse weather conditions. Many areas of the fire are sheltered from east winds by Beargrass Butte, reducing the wind’s impact on fire growth.

 Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Smoke was visible with increased fire activity Friday afternoon in the Dam Creek and Coal Creek areas but crews kept the fire’s growth in check; its edge remains about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Fire managers continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; 85% of indirect control lines have been completed and firefighters have protected multiple acres in the Coal Creek drainage with direct control lines.  Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority on the Goat Rocks Fire.   

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, there was another small “slop” (cross) over the control line on Coal Creek’s north side, just beyond the previous day’s slop over on the fire’s western edge. Another small spot was located across the creek; firefighters contained these areas with both hand lines and hose lines.  They identified Forest Road 4618 to serve as an additional fire break below Forest Road 4612, and worked to open it up by removing fuels. Woody debris removal was on-going along Forest Road 041 On the northeastern edge near Dam Creek, fire continued to burn through heavy fuels where the terrain is much more challenging. Helicopters worked to suppress that portion of the fire with on-going bucket drops. Chipping along Forest Road 46 was completed. A small crew patrolled the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities. Though firefighters have finished work in those neighborhoods, they are leaving equipment in place. Fire managers ask the public to leave the equipment where it is; crews will remove it when appropriate.  

Today, firefighters will continue prepping the 4618 Road and watching for hot spots around Coal Creek. Crews will maintain a presence in the neighborhoods. Fire managers will monitor the fire in the Dam Creek drainage, using helicopter bucket drops as necessary to moderate its growth. Crews will finish chipping at the new helispot along Forest Road 46, and the heavy equipment will be repositioned to the fire’s western side to assist with debris removal there. Nevada Incident Management Team (IMT) 4 will in-brief this morning, shadowing Northwest IMT 10 until they take command of the Goat Rocks Fire on Sunday evening. At the end of today’s shift, the incident’s helicopter base will move from Tieton to Packwood Airport. 

Weather: Increasing temperatures are expected for Saturday.  A stable air mass with light easterly winds may trap smoke near the surface around some parts of the fire. Sunday is forecast to bring higher temperatures and lower humidity through Tuesday. There is a chance of light precipitation later in the week.  

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: Today is National Public Lands Day. As you travel to visit or volunteer on efforts to restore, beautify and improve the many and varied public lands around our area, drive carefully to keep both the public and firefighters safe.  

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.  

Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Despite yesterday’s more active fire behavior, its edge remains about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority on the Goat Rocks Fire.  Fire managers continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; 85% of indirect control lines have been completed with additional direct control line in place around the spot and slop fires in the Coal Creek drainage near the 4610 Road.   

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, crews on the fire’s western edge focused on containing the fire that had “slopped” (crossed) over the containment line around the previous day’s successful burn operation.  Dozers and hand-crews along with helicopter bucket drops were used to limit growth; fire managers plan to have it mopped up by the end of today’s shift. A fire spotted south across Coal Creek, and was mopped up by the end of yesterday’s shift. Forest Roads 4610 and 4612 have been “plumbed” (hose lines with water supply are in place in case they are needed to hold the fire at established control lines). On the northeastern edge near Dam Creek, fire continued to burn through heavy fuels in that area’s challenging terrain and helicopters worked to suppress that portion of the fire with on-going bucket drops. Mastication and chipping along Forest Road 46 continues, further strengthening it as a control line. A small crew patrolled the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities. Though firefighters have finished work in those neighborhoods, they are leaving equipment in place. Fire managers ask the public to leave the equipment where it is; crews will remove it when appropriate. 

Today, firefighters will watch for hot spots around Coal Creek and scout for another spur that could be treated to serve as another control line near the 4610 and 4612 Roads. Patrols in the neighborhoods will be on-going for the next few days. Along Forest Road 46 in the north, crews will continue mitigating hazard trees and conducting mechanized woody debris removal. Fire managers will monitor the fire in the Dam Creek area. Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) 10 will welcome Nevada IMT 4 as members of that Type 3 IMT begin arriving today. To ensure an orderly and safe transition, the incoming team will shadow the current team for over a day before taking command of the Goat Rocks Fire on Sunday evening. Weather: Lower temperatures and higher humidity with light westerly winds are expected today through Saturday. Only a trace of precipitation is possible. On Sunday, the pattern changes to offshore bringing a shift to easterly winds and warmer temperatures. 

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: This National Preparedness Month, we are reminding you to develop an emergency communications plan with your family. Decide now how you will check-in with one another if regular communications channels are unavailable. To learn more, visit: https://www.ready.gov/
 
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. 

Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Firefighters have finished removing fuels around structures closest to the fire and are patrolling those neighborhoods.   Although the fire had moderate growth, yesterday’s successful burning operation further strengthened control lines between the fire’s edge and highly-valued resources.  As of this morning the fire is being held at the 4610 Road, about ½ mile from Upper Timberline. Fire managers are prioritizing firefighter and public safety as they continue to make good progress toward completing firefighting objectives; today, 85% of indirect control lines have been completed.   

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, conditions were favorable for the burning operation that had to be paused on Tuesday due to potentially unstable weather and winds. Firefighters carefully applied fire to clear vegetation further reinforcing fire breaks by removing fuels between the fire’s edge and control lines at the 4610 and 4612 Roads in and around the Coal Creek drainage. On the fire’s northwest corner near Bluff Lake, fire behavior was more active due to windy, warm and dry conditions. Fire managers monitored additional hot spots around Dam Creek and in the Lava Creek area; helicopters applied water to slow the fire. In addition, crews finished clearing a helicopter landing spot on the fire’s northern edge, providing more rapid access in the event of a field emergency.  Firefighters have finished work in the Timberline and Goat Rocks communities but are leaving fire protection equipment – hose lines and water tanks – in place as a contingency for firefighting efforts. Fire managers ask the public to leave the equipment where it is; crews will remove it when appropriate.  
Today, a crew will be patrolling Timberline and Goat Rocks while the rest of the personnel previously working on structure protection will be reassigned to the fire’s western edges. There, firefighters will monitor the areas of yesterday’s burning operation. Work will continue strengthening control lines with heavy equipment on forest roads around the fire’s north and west perimeters.  

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. 

Weather: Cooler temperatures and rising humidity are forecast for Thursday and Friday as the weather shifts to an onshore pattern with light westerly winds until Sunday when warmer conditions and an easterly flow are expected.  

Public Safety: This National Preparedness Month, we are reminding you to develop an emergency communications plan with your family. Decide now how you will check-in with one another if regular communications channels are unavailable. To learn more, visit: https://www.ready.gov/ 

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.  

Goat Rocks Fire
September 21, 2022
 
Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. 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. Fire managers continue to prioritize firefighter and public safety. 

Over the past several days, firefighters have been creating “indirect” containment lines around the Goat Rocks Fire. This strategy is deliberate and methodical. Additionally, this strategy is designed to achieve the goals of protecting Packwood, the subdivisions and other values without subjecting firefighters to unacceptable risk. Over 70% of identified control line has been completed and more than 500 structures in and around Packwood continue to be monitored, patrolled or have received fuel reduction. Other objectives include monitoring changes in fire behavior, weather, and terrain to evaluate for additional fire protection measures.  

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, moderate fire activity was observed due to an increase in temperatures, lower humidity, and terrain driven winds. In response, helicopters began dropping water over the affected areas. Firefighters resumed mastication on the Forest Road 4612. After evaluating conditions, the planned burning operation along a small portion of Forest Road 4610 in the Coal Creek drainage was paused. Control lines along Forest Road 46 have been completed and crews will begin to assess for additional fire suppression opportunities. Fire personnel have completed chipping of fuels around structures within the Upper Timberline and Coal Creek neighborhoods.  

Today, crews will continue to improve control lines using heavy equipment along Forest Road 041 and apply hose lays on Forest Road 46. Fire personnel will reassess conditions for a small tactical burn operation above Coal Creek along the 4610 Road. This will improve and secure the line protecting the town of Packwood. Weather conditions and fuels must prove favorable for burning to take place. There is a possibility that smoke may be visible should burning operations occur.

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: All of Packwood and areas southwest of Butter Creek, including High Valley, have had their evacuation orders lifted. 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. 

Weather: More warm and dry conditions are predicted for today with a shift in winds coming out of the west. Winds will be light and predominately terrain driven, influencing fire activity to creep and smolder.  

Public Safety:  This National Preparedness Month, we are reminding you to build your emergency kit. Don’t forget to include  

non-perishable food and water that can last several days, flashlights, radios and extra batteries, and a first aid kit. To learn more visit: https://www.ready.gov/ 

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/  

Goat Rocks Fire
September 20, 2022
 
Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Crews continue to thin fuels along roads and chip fuels cut from around structures. Additionally, crews will evaluate an opportunity to apply fire in a small area along the 4610 road to better secure the line protecting the town of Packwood. There is a possibility that smoke may be visible should burning occur. Fire managers continue to prioritize firefighter and public safety. 

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, crews worked to complete line construction along Forest Road 041 south of the fire. They removed excess trees, masticated underbrush, and chipped material cut when hand line was constructed. Other crews also chipped cut material around the Upper Timberline neighborhood and Forest Road 046. A small test burn in the Coal Creek drainage was conducted as an observation of the fire activity. A test burn involves setting a small fire in a controlled area to observe the potential fire behavior in a larger burn operation.  

Today, resources on all divisions of the fire will continue chipping and removing vegetation from around structures and forest roads to improve the existing fuel breaks. Additionally, after the successful test burn yesterday, firefighters may be evaluating a potential burn operation above Coal Creek to clean up an area of unburned fuels between the wildfire and the Timberline community. This burn is intentional and intended to dispose of fuels that would otherwise be unsafe, costly, and time intensive to have removed. Packwood residents may smell and see more smoke in the area. This burn will not take place until the temperature and humidity values fall within a specific range where conditions are favorable; if conditions go outside that range, fire managers will not continue the burn. 

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: All of Packwood and areas southwest of Butter Creek, including High Valley, have had their evacuation orders lifted. 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. 

Weather: The warming and drying trend will continue today with humidity values dropping into the upper 30% range, and temperatures rising into the 70s. Winds will continue out of the east, following the terrain and potentially gusting up to 15-20 miles per hour. With easterly winds, there will may be more smoke in Packwood as the winds blow over White Pass and push the smoke into the Cowlitz River Drainage. 

Public Safety:  National Preparedness Month (NPM) is an observance each September to raise awareness in  

the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The 2022 theme is “A Lasting Legacy.” To learn more visit: https://www.ready.gov/ 

Donations: Northwest Incident Management Team 10 would like to thank the community for all your generous offers to provide donations. Firefighters are well-provisioned. Other ways you may help include driving cautiously to ensure firefighter safety, post thank you signs within the community for firefighters to see or donate to your local Red Cross, Lewis County Fire District #10 (Packwood) and the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. 

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/