The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Saturday issued a Level One “Get Ready” evacuation notice for residents near Skyo Mountain, located three miles west of Packwood.
The Skyo Fire, first reported on July 22, had grown to roughly 139 acres as of Sunday. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said the fire is 5% contained.
A Level One notice indicates a potential threat to the area, but no immediate danger.
“Conditions can change and worsen quickly,” LCSO officials said in its notice. “This is the time to prepare people with limited mobility, and plan transportation for pets and livestock out of the area of immediate danger. Prepare a backpack with essentials (like medications) in case you need to leave quickly. If conditions worsen, emergency services personnel will attempt to contact you in person or by phone.”
An upgrade to Level Two, or “Get Set,” would require residents to “be prepared to leave within hours,” officials said.
Level Three, or “Go Now,” is considered a mandatory and immediate evacuation notice.
“Residents should begin preparing now by gathering essential items, reviewing their evacuation plans, and staying alert to changing conditions,” the USFS said in a Sunday news release.
The agency said 17 additional fires have been reported in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest area since July 23.
“Local responders and U.S. Forest Service crews are working toward full suppression under challenging, densely forested terrain,” USFS officials said. “Some fires may continue to smolder in deep ground layers and could reemerge as conditions dry.”
The nearby Dog Mountain Fire, located at the east end of Riffe Lake near Glenoma, is reportedly 95% contained, according to the computer-aided dispatch system WildCAD.
The fire, first reported on July 22, had grown to roughly 5.4 acres.
The Johnson Creek Fire, located south of U.S. 12 and north of South Point, is 100% contained, according to WildCAD, as is the Frying Pan Fire, located in the northeast portion of the county.
The USFS attributed the cause of the fires in the national forest to lightning strikes on July 22 and July 23. The Western Washington Incident Management Team 3 has responded to the fires.
The agency said Incident Commander Joel Basch “continues to provide steady leadership with an aggressive but cautious approach.”
“Joel stresses situational awareness, and attention to safety of firefighters and the public, protection of property and directing suppression efforts,” officials said in the release. “Structure protection is underway as needed. Strategic objectives include summarizing primary incident threats to life, property and communities.”
The USFS on Saturday noted a number of other small fires being managed by the team, many of which were either out or under control. Those fires included:
• Clear Fork Fire
• Cortright Fire
• Curly Creek Fire
• Miller Fire
• Mosquito Fire
• High Lava Fire
• Green Mountain Fire
• Yellow Jacket Fire
“Please help crews stay focused on suppression efforts by preventing any human caused fires,” officials said. “All campfires are prohibited across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Portable cooking stoves, portable gas campfires, and lanterns using pressurized fuel or propane with an on/off switch are allowed.”
Officials continue to advise citizens against flying drones near fires.
“It is critical that drones do not fly in or around the fire area — unauthorized drones immediately halt aircraft operations,” officials said.
To sign up for Lewis County Alerts in case of evacuation notices, visit https://tinyurl.com/9uzvvb4n.
To stay up to date with the incident management team’s response, visit https://www.facebook.com/WWIMT.
