Fire Information Line: 541-786-0489 or 360-481-0031
August 12, 2018 – 9 a.m.
Acres: Miriam Fire – 2,236 acres: Clear Fork Fire - 10 acres
Percent Containment: 9%
Start Date: 07/30/18
Personnel/Resources: Seven 20-person crews, 4 helicopters (others available, as needed), 16 engines, 2 dozer, 354 total personnel
Location: Two miles east of White Pass Ski Area, within the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Naches Ranger District, 13 miles east of Packwood, WA.
Cause: Lightning
Estimated Incident Containment or completion: 9/1/2018
Rain on the Miriam and Clear Fork Fires Benefits Firefighters
Current Activity: It was cool and moist yesterday and rained overnight on the entire fire area. The rain will reduce active fire behavior and allow firefighters time to complete much needed work on containment lines.
On the Miriam Fire crews completed the handline from Ginnette Lake to Twin Peaks and continued structure protection work on ski area structures. The Wildland Fire Module, a team which specializes in suppressing fires in remote rugged terrain, continued to explore containment options in the Goat Rock Wilderness. Work on the contingency lines on Forest Roads (FR) 1204 and 1205 is nearly completed. Today the Wildland Fire Module will continue to scout for control line opportunities along the east flank in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Structure protection work, laying hose and sprinkler kits on top of the White Pass Ski Resort ridge near the Pacific Crest Trail continues. Mop-up will continue along FR 1207 and the control line in the Hell Creek drainage. Additional heavy equipment has arrived to assist with contingency line construction along FR 1204 and 1205.
A new Emergency Area Closure has been issued for the Clear Fork Fire (located in the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest) expanding the current closure area associated with the Miriam Fire. Refer to the closure map on the Miriam Fire Inciweb site. Yesterday on the Clear Fork Fire helicopters used retardant drops to encircle and check the fire’s spread. A portable retardant mixing plant has been set up near Rimrock Lake to support this operation. The fire will be monitored closely and aerial resources will be used to check any active fire spread in the short term.
Weather and Fire Behavior: The temperatures today are expected to be in the 70’s with light northwest winds and a gradual warming and drying trend. The marine layer should burn off around noon providing visibility for aviation under mostly sunny skies. Fire behavior today should be limited to smoldering of heavy fuels. Hot and dry conditions are expected to return on Tuesdayand Wednesday.
Evacuations: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations in the White Pass, Rimrock Lake and Clear Lake areas have not changed. Continue to follow Yakima County OEM for specific details on evacuation information.
Closures: A Closure Area is in effect on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot National Forests. Find a map and list of affected sites at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6066/45371. The PCT is closed from Elk Pass to White Pass. Highway 12 remains open and is not currently threatened. Caution is advised for motorists near White Pass to Rimrock Lake due to firefighting traffic in the area and WDOT road construction.
For Online Miriam Fire Updates visit:
Incident Management Team: Pacific NW IMT 7
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