Firefighters were expecting the Goat Rocks Fire to become more active on Thursday following the arrival of dry, gusty winds from the east, according to an update from the U.S. Forest Service.
As of Thursday, there were 177 people battling the blaze, which was sparked by lightning Aug. 9 and has grown to 4,426 acres in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and a mile and a half northeast of Packwood.
“Control lines continue to hold,” the Forest Service wrote Thursday. “Firefighters have established a contingency line in between the fire and the communities near the fire. Engines are patrolling in the community and along U.S. 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. Local agencies are also on standby to provide additional structure protection if needed. Some engines and crews are timing out, but they are being replaced with fresh firefighters who are arriving from across the country. Aerial attack continues, especially in the Coal Creek drainage.”
According to the Forest Service, winds will average 12 miles per hour throughout Thursday, but gusts could reach 20 mph.
“These drier east winds will lower relative humidity levels to about 20%,” according to the Forest Service. “The high for today is 82 degrees. The weather forecast calls for temperatures to remain in the upper 70s and lower 80s through Sunday. As of now, Monday will bring in cooler temperatures, with a high of 68 degrees.”
There are two crews, nine fire engines, four helicopters, four water tenders and one bulldozer being used to battle the blaze.
Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of U.S. Highway 12, including Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks, are still at an evacuation level one (be ready). Upper Timberline remains at an evacuation level two (be set).
Nevada Incident Management Team 4 and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are hosting a community meeting at 6 p.m. Friday at the Packwood Fire Department. The meeting, which will also be broadcast on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Facebook page, is open to the public.
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