9/25/2022 Goat Rocks Fire Update

 Overview: The Goat Rocks Fire continues to burn 1.5 miles northeast of the town of Packwood, Washington in and around the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Though there will be a change in command of the fire today, firefighters will continue their work to prevent fire from reaching highly-valued resources. Over the two weeks that Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) 10 has been in command of the fire, good progress has been made toward completing firefighting objectives: 92% of indirect control lines have been completed, additional contingency lines are in place between the fire and residential areas. Crews have reduced fuels around more than 150 homes in the closest neighborhoods and placed fire protection features such as hose lines, sprinklers and water tanks around those structures. To date, this work has been accomplished without any serious injuries. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority on the Goat Rocks Fire.   Northwest IMT 10 Incident Commander Alan Lawson would like to thank the U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Lewis County Department of Emergency Management, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Packwood Fire Department and the community for their support and cooperation during this firefighting effort.

Firefighting Activity: Yesterday, crews located another 2 – 3 acre slop-over just outside the containment lines on the south side of Coal Creek. Fire managers used helicopter bucket drops there and over other hotspots along the fire’s western edge. The work to clear Forest Road 4618 proved even more valuable than planned after a tree fell across Forest Road 4612, forcing firefighters to work from the 4618 Road instead. Woody debris removal was on-going along Forest Road 041, and chipping was underway where that road intersects with the 4610. On the northeastern edge near Dam Creek, fire continued to burn.. Helicopters also worked over that portion of the fire with on-going bucket drops. An additional helicopter, capable of serving as a platform for rappelling firefighters, arrived. The helispot along Forest Road 46 north of the fire was finished, and the helibase move to Packwood Airport was accomplished. Patrols through the neighborhoods are on-going.

Today, crews will continue to prepare the 4618 Road as a contingency line and woody debris removal as well as chipping will continue on Forest Road 041. Firefighters will scout for access points to the small slop-over south of Coal Creek. If its location proves too dangerous to access on the ground, fire managers will use bucket drops to slow the small fire’s spread.  Crews will monitor the fire in the Dam Creek and Coal Creek drainages, again using helicopters as necessary to moderate growth. Crews will maintain a presence in the neighborhoods. Nevada IMT 4 will assume command of the Goat Rocks Fire at 6 p.m. today.

Weather: The warming trend continues on today with temperatures increasing and humidity decreasing through this pattern’s forecast peak on Monday.  Light easterly winds are likely. The return to more typical fall-like weather is expected on Tuesday as a shift to onshore flow brings cooler temperatures and gusty winds out of the west with the prediction of precipitation.

Forest Closures: For information on current road and trail closures, you can go to this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf

Evacuations: Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of US-12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an Evacuation Level 1 (Be Ready). Upper Timberline remains at an Evacuation Level 2 (Be Set).

Fire Restrictions: Campfire bans and other use restrictions are in place across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campfires are allowed within certain campgrounds identified on: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices.

Public Safety: Make your home and property more wildfire-resistant.  Learn more at www.firewise.org  

Sign-up For Alerts: To receive alerts from Lewis County in the case of an emergency, sign up at https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/lewis-county-alert/

The percent of containment on a fire is one measure of progress, but not the only one. Completion of firefighting objectives is another measure of progress. These objectives include construction of control lines and protecting highly valued resources such as the Packwood community, sensitive tribal resources, and historic structures at Packwood Lake.  This deliberate and methodical strategy is designed to achieve these protection goals without subjecting firefighters to unacc
eptable risk.