8/26/2015 Cougar Creek Fire Update

Cougar Creek Fire Daily Update:  August 26, 2015             0900 Hours      GLENWOOD, Wash. – Yesterday’s burnout operation on the Cougar Creek Fire along the 255 Rd. went well.   The operation progressed north to create solid containment lines on the northeastern flanks of the fire.  This strategy is needed to secure the head of the fire as it moves northward and is a key element to complete fire line along the 255 Rd. to the  Potato Hill Rd.  The fire did spot over the road but was contained.    A 20 person crew from the Yakama Nation continued burn out operations last night so that there was no loss of time or continuity to create a barrier between the fire and the unburned timber further east.  The Yakama crew also located and contained an additional spot fire. In spite of very active fire behavior and short range spotting, there was minimal spread of the fire yesterday. Today dozers and feller-bunchers will continue to supplement burning operations to eliminate vegetation up the 255 Rd. and west along the Potato Hill Rd. and will eventually be tied off at the lava flows. Continued dry and unstable conditions with a slight chance of thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening are expected. Ground crews will be on the lookout for snags and wind shifts as the front moves in during the afternoon. Burnout operations are expected to continue today and for the remainder of the week. Residents should expect to see significant smoke in the vicinity and in adjacent areas as these operations occur. Burn outs and bucket drops along the southwestern flank of the fire above Trout Lake will continue today. 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 - Tract D Mt Adams Recreation Area is closed. USFS – The Mt Adams Wilderness 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 at 9 a.m. each day on InciWeb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4484/ . An information phone line and email address has been established. Information Office Phone:  (509)364-3369 Email:  cougarcreekfireinfo@gmail.com. Incident maps are available at the following link: https://deptofnaturalresources.box.com/s/7s5p5rj8sz7kx1xv4lbkto5p5op6t2c8