8/31/2015 Cougar Creek Fire Update

GLENWOOD, WA -Cougar Creek Fire crews took advantage of the cool wet weather over the weekend and continued to build line and prepare for additional burnout operations along Potato Hill Road. The east portion of the fire moved into patrol status as cooler temperatures and rain helped crews as they mopped up hot spots and strengthened containment lines. Today and tomorrow crews will prepare for additional burnouts that may take place on the northern and northeast part of the fire later this week if conditions become favorable. Crews continue to patrol and reinforce completed lines along the west, south, and east flanks of the fire.

 Though the south end of the fire received a wetting rain, the rain did not penetrate the canopy in the northern portion of the fire.  These areas will dry out quickly as the effects of the rain dissipate over the next few days.  As vegetation dries out firefighters will be on the lookout for re-kindling of previously burned areas and snags that remain a danger.

 A cold front is expected midweek that will bring cold unstable air and showers on the west side of the fire, but again, little rain is expected on the north/northwest portion of the fire. This will aid in planned burning operations but, may bring additional wind.

  
Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (WAIIMT5) reached the 14
day operational limit on August 26, but was extended for an additional 5 days.  WAIIMT 5 handed over management of the fire to Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 (SCIIMT3) this morning at 0600. This Type 2 team will continue focusing on building containment lines and completing burnouts on the northern part of the fire and increasing containment on the east side of the fire.

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.

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

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