07/14/2015 Mt. Adams Complex Fire Update

Crews continue to seek out fire in Mt Adams Complex and fire officials expect to complete mopping up Riley and Horseshoe Fires on Friday

The 63-acre Riley Fire is the focus of three firefighting crews that are mopping up abundant hot spots throughout the burned area. The crews are finding them, spraying water over charred logs and turning over smoldering duff. 

According to Brian Gales, incident commander for Washington Incident Management Team #4, firefighters are working to establish a good perimeter around the Riley Fire. “The rugged terrain is slowing progress. Firefighters are methodically mitigating hazards as they work to suppress the Riley Fire,” he said.

One crew and a faller group remain at the Horseshoe Fire and are using palm IR to seek out and mitigate remaining heat. A crew has been identified for initial attack on any new fires. The Spiral Fire, which burned an acre of timber in the Big Lava Bed 15 miles west of the Complex yesterday, was also suppressed by firefighters from the incident and Mt. Adams Ranger District. 

Crews, overhead and equipment that are excess to the suppression actions, ongoing monitoring and rehabilitation work required to meet standards set by the Mt. Adams Ranger District are being demobilized from the Complex. Resource specialists are continuing to work with crews and oversee the rehabilitation of trails, helispots, and the Horseshoe Fire spike camp. A subsidence inversion is predicted to cause low fuel moisture recoveries overnight throughout the area. The weather is expected to get warmer and dryer by this weekend and trend to normal, warm and dry mid-July temperatures next week.