8/29/2015 Cougar Creek Fire Update

GLENWOOD, Wash.  – Crews took advantage of favorable conditions and made progress on burnout operations yesterday along the northeast portion of the fire.  The burnout continued north along the 255 Road and progressed onto Potato Hill Road.

A cold front is expected to bring wetting rain and high winds to the fire area today and through the weekend.  While this will aid suppression efforts by slowing fire progression, it also introduces new hazards to fire operations including dangers from falling snags, spotting and erratic gusty winds.

The weather will dominate fire operations today. In light of the predicted high winds with gusts up to 50 mph crews will travel to the fire line in stages this morning to reduce overall risk and congestion on roads.

  Excellent cooperation among agencies, local contract resources, and the community has been a key component in achieving success in controlling this fire while firefighting resources are stretched thin regionally and nationally. BIA, The Yakama Nation, USFS, and WDNR have pooled resources under the direction of Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (WIIMT5) since August 12. For instance, a BIA crew continues night burning operations and patrolling for spot fires along the 22 miles of containment line, which has been critical to the success of the operation.

  WIIMT5 reached the 14 day operational limit on August 26, but were extended for another 5 days to maintain continuity during this critical time.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team from S. California has been assigned to replace Team 5 and will arrive this evening. They will shadow Team 5 on Sunday to facilitate a smooth transition and likely take command at 06:00 Monday morning.

  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– All forest resource lands are closed to the public, including tribal members.  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 are closed between Forest Road 23 at Williams Mine to the eastern boundary of the Forest. Forest Roads 80 & 82 are also closed.