Single Publication

Williams Mine Fire Update for Monday, August 19, 2024 

KEY MESSAGES: 

Yesterday, crews returned to the fire area to assess impacts from Saturday night’s storm. Air operations re-engaged bucket drops around the fire perimeter and assisted with initial attack on new starts. Fire crews are utilizing infrared imagery with an unmanned aerial system to monitor the fire perimeter for spot fires or new starts due to the previous day’s lighting storm. 

CURRENT STATUS:  

South of the Williams Mine Trailhead and north of Eckhart Point, five lightning strikes were identified with at least one igniting a new fire. Air resources are on scene and crews responded to build containment lines around the new ignition. The initial size up had the new start smaller than ¼ acre. This new fire is known as the Dry Meadows Incident and is two miles west of the FS-23 road. Suppression efforts at this time have been successful. 

Firefighters are completing mop up operations along the 051 road south of Snipes Mountain from the tactical burning completed at the end of last week. Crews are set up along the fire line and continue working deeper into the black, or burned area, to mop up remaining hot spots. Ground personnel will continue utilizing mechanized equipment on the FS-23 road, prepping the road as an alternate control feature if needed.  

WEATHER / FIRE BEHAVIOR: 

Today, cooler and calmer weather conditions will continue over the fire area as onshore flows will keep temperatures below seasonal averages and a marine layer will keep relative humidity values above 40%.  

Due to the wetting rains Saturday, fire behavior will continue to be moderate around heavy fuels. Consumption of down and dead vegetation may take longer to burn, providing firefighters additional time to complete containment lines. There may be minimal but active behavior within the drip ring of live trees that did not get significant precipitation and may have the ability to re-ignite and carry fire spread. 

SAFETY AND CLOSURES:   

Washington DNR managed lands near Trout Lake and Glenwood are closed to entry due to the Williams Mine Fire. For more information, please see http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area is closed, please see Yakama Tract D Road Closure for more information. Level 1 & 2 evacuations are in effect for the community of Trout Lake, and parts of Klickitat County. Evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office. The FS-23 and FS-25 roads are closed, see the Williams Mine Area and Road Closure for more details. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from the PCT's intersection with FS 23 to Potato Hill. The current area closure spans the entire Mt. Adams Wilderness.