8/28/2015 Cougar Creek Fire Update

Cougar Creek Fire Daily Update

Aug. 28, 2015

GLENWOOD, Wash. – Burnout operations continue to progress well along the northern portion of the fire. The 255 and Potato Hill Roads have been prepped as fire lines and a dozer line has been constructed from the Potato Hill Road to the lava flow on the north side of Mt. Adams. Crews are bringing fire north along the 255 Road and expect to progress onto the Potato Hill Road today ahead of the flame front. This reduces fuel for the fire to consume which improves containment within the constructed line. It also reduces understory vegetation and small and bug killed trees while preserving large, more fire resistant dominate trees, improving forest health and fire resiliency. 

An approaching cold front is expected to bring wetting rain and high winds to the fire area. While this will likely aid suppression efforts by slowing fire progression, it also introduces new hazards to fire operations including dangers from falling snags and damaged trees and slippery conditions in the forest and on adjacent roads

Cooperation among agencies and local contract resources has been critical for achieving success in controlling this fire. BIA, The Yakama Nation, USFS, and WDNR have cooperated under the direction of Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (WIIMT5) since August 12. Since the push to complete the burnout operations along 22 miles of containment lines began, the BIA has coordinated a surge in Yakama Nation firefighting crews to conduct night operations which has been a critical asset in the operation.

On Wednesday August 26, WIIMT reached the 14 day operational limit, but the decision was made to extend the team for another 7 days to maintain continuity during this critical part of the operation. A Type 2 Team from Southern California has been assigned to replace Team 5 and will arrive Saturday night August 29 and shadow Team 5 on Sunday to facilitate a smooth transition.

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 – All forest resource lands are closed to the public, including tribal members. USFS – The Pacific Crest Trail through the Mt Adams Wilderness, the Mt Adams Wilderness in its entirety, 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.