8/24/2015 Cougar Creek Fire Update

GLENWOOD, Wash. – Fire behavior increased on the north and northwest flanks of the Cougar Creek Fire on Sunday.  As forecasted, increased temperatures and low humidity contributed to fire spread as spot fires progressed into critically receptive fuels.  Crews continue to strengthen and secure containment lines along the south and east portions of the fire.

WIIMT#5 advises the public to expect an increased amount of smoke from the Cougar Creek Fire today.  Burnout operations will be conducted on the north end of the fire along the 255 and Potato Hill roads to attempt to slow progression to the north and northwest.  Safety continues to be a priority and crews will be on the lookout as fire activity increases. Inaccessible terrain, heavy dead and down fuels and indirect containment lines continue to pose a problem to firefighting personnel.

In the unlikely event that the Cougar Creek fire escapes its control lines to the south, WIIMT#5 has established contingency plans in place, and will continue to follow the Wildfire Public Safety Plan established by the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management and the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office.

Residents of Glenwood north of Ladiges Road remain under a Level 1 evacuation from    the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office. The Level 1 notice advises residents to be alert of the fire’s activity.

The USFS has announced a closure to the Pacific Crest Trail in the Mt Adams Wilderness area.  For more information on PCT closures, visit: http://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/trail-conditions-and-closures/, or call the Mt Adams Ranger District at (509)395-3400.

A Community Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25^th at 6:00pm in the Glenwood School Gymnasium

CLOSURES:  For the safety of firefighters and the public: DNR - All DNR State Trust lands and recreation sites within the Glenwood Block are closed.Yakama Nation - Tract D Mt Adams Recreation Area is closed. USFS – The Mt Adams Wilderness and all trails on the south and east sides of Mt Adams are closed between Forest Road 23 at Williams Mine to the eastern boundary of the Forest. Forest Roads 80 & 82 are also closed.

                                                                                      

Future daily updates will be posted by 9 a.m. each day on InciWeb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4484/

An information phone line and email address has been established.

Information Office Phone:  (509)364-3369 Email:  cougarcreekfireinfo@gmail.com

Incident maps are available at the following link:

https://deptofnaturalresources.box.com/s/7s5p5rj8sz7kx1xv4lbkto5p5op6t2c8