7/15/2015 Mt. Adams Complex Fire Update A.M.

Riley Fire has many more snags, steeper ground, spottier burn

Riley tougher than Horseshoe Fire and will take two days to mop up, rehabilitation planned for Friday

Even though the 65-acre Riley Fire is only a mile north of the Horseshoe Fire, the ground is far steeper and its perimeter thicker with snags. The ground is a mosaic of smoldering jackpots and green, fine fuels.  Because hazard trees must be removed before firefighters can mop up, rehabilitation of the fire has been pushed back to Friday. The fire is presently 15 percent contained.

The Horseshoe Fire continues to experience flare-ups in unburned, internal fuels.  A crew is using palm infrared heat-seeking devices to uncover smoldering ground fuels. Mop-up should be complete by Wednesday night. Horseshoe and Riley, the two largest fires in the Mt Adams Complex, still contain hot spots and fire managers are concerned about the upcoming drying through next week and beyond, potential increased fire activity, and low fuel moisture recoveries during the night.  

Clear skies, temperatures in the 60s and moderate humidity levels prevailed yesterday as Interagency Incident Management Team #4 officials took advantage of the “window of opportunity” to supply sling sites in the Riley helispot and complete laying hose in the fire area.   According to Brian Gales, incident commander, crews are reducing the threat now before the weather becomes suitable for renewed fire growth.

Tomorrow and Friday, a Type 4 team from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest led by Incident Commander Whitney Machado will shadow Washington Incident Management Team #4 and assume command of the Complex on Saturday.

Crews, overhead and equipment that are excess to the needs of the Complex are being demobilized as objectives are met.