Incidents All News

Fire Activity: Fire growth continues but at low intensity. The fire is backing, flanking, and testing control lines, all of which firefighters are successfully holding. The fire consumed ground fuels near the Forest Road 1266, which reduces the risk of it jumping that road in the future.            

Fire Activity: Yesterday’s wind and fire activity tested the control lines, all of which successfully held. The fire consumed additional vegetation in the Coal Creek drainage, reducing the chance that it will cross the control lines in the future. Last night’s humidity was lower than normal, meaning that the fire will be more active earlier today.           

Highlights: The fire will likely become more active today as drier and gustier winds arrive from the east. Control lines continue to hold.  Firefighters have established a contingency line in between the fire and the communities near the fire. Engines are patrolling in the community and along US Highway 12 throughout the day and night. A structure protection specialist is working with Lewis County on coordinating an emergency response plan, while staging for tonight’s increased winds.

Community Meeting: Please join Nevada Incident Management Team 4 and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for a Community Meeting on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Attendees can either join in-person at the Packwood Fire Department (2953 US 12) or online via Facebook live (@GiffordPinchot).

Highlights: There was increased fire activity yesterday, but the fire remains within control lines. Firefighters expected this change, as the hotter and drier days have dried out the fuels. There is more smoke coming from the Coal Creek drainage, which may continue for the next few days given the weather forecast. The Rogue River Hotshots and the Northwest Regulars Crew (Central Oregon) are using direct fireline tactics in that area, receiving additional suppression support from engines, a dozer and aerial bucket work.

A high-pressure system over the Goat Rocks Fire vicinity is expected to last through the week. The system is bringing unseasonably warm and dry weather. High temperatures are forecast near 80 degrees with relative humidity falling below 30% on most days. The system will continue to dry out the forest, making fuels more likely to burn. No rain is forecasted in the short-term. Lighter winds and shorter days will help reduce risks associated with the drying trend. 

Warmer temperatures and gusty east winds caused increased fire activity on the Goat Rocks Fire yesterday. Greater amounts of smoke were visible as the day progressed, winds picked up, and fuels grew drier. The fire stayed on the ground, creeping through surface fuels which still held some moisture from showers and high humidity earlier this week. No torching or rapid growth was seen.

The Goat Rocks Fire was generally quiet yesterday, still affected by showers and high humidity earlier this week. As the inversion lifted and temperatures rose, the fire became more active and began to creep through fuels. Most spread was on slopes southeast of Forest Road 4612 and in upper Coal Creek drainage.

Cool temperatures and light precipitation had a calming affect on the Goat Rocks Fire yesterday. Although most precipitation didn’t make it past the tree canopies, higher humidity was absorbed into finer fuels like brush and small sticks. Large logs and stumps continued to burn, but with less intensity. The fire produced less smoke and did not spread.  

The Goat Rocks Fire received some much-needed rain yesterday. Rainfall totaled one tenth of an inch as of 7 a.m. this morning. Most of the rain was intercepted by the crowns of trees in forested areas, with little precipitation reaching the ground-level fuels. These showers still helped calm the fire by raising the relative humidity, allowing fine fuels to absorb enough moisture to make them difficult to ignite. More rain is expected today.