9/09/2015 Final Cougar Creek Fire Update

This will be the final update from the incident. All questions about recreation and closures on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest should be directed to Forest Headquarters at (360) 891-5000.

The fire will remain at 97% containment until crews can ensure the containment lines will hold during the forecasted above normal temperatures over the next few days. Demobilization of excess units will reduce the number of personnel over the next few days. These resources will be returning to their home units or re-dispatched to other fires.

Suppression repair and rehabilitation as well as BAER will be ongoing in the fire area. Heavy equipment will be working in the fire area and on roads impacted by the fire. Warmer temperatures will increase the likelihood of interior smoke becoming visible over all areas of the fire.

Forest officials will be assessing the safety of the public and crews in the burned area over the next few days and will release information regarding Forest Closure Orders.

Southern California Incident Management Team 3 would like to extend its gratitude to the communities affected by this wildfire. Incident Commander Mike Wakoski would like to thank the community of Glenwood and the Glenwood Unified School District for hosting the Incident Command Post (ICP). ICP will now be located at the Glenwood rodeo grounds.

A type 3 incident management team will take command of the fire tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM.

Closures in effect to minimize risks to public safety:
DNR - All DNR State Trust lands and recreation sites within the Glenwood Block are closed.
Yakama Nation – Nation lands are closed to the public, except enrolled members. Burned areas remain closed until further notice.
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 is closed between Forest Road 23 at Williams Mine to the eastern boundary of the Forest. Forest Roads 80 & 82 is also closed.