SIT REP 2: 2247 PDT

According to the WA DNR Wildfire Officials, a Type 3 IMT assumed command of the fire management at 2200 this evening.

About 315 acres have been burned and there is an unknown containment status at this time.

Hwy 14 remains CLOSED between Diablo Lake and Underwood.

Photo Credit: WA DNR Wildfire

SIT REP 1: SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2023, 1530 HOURS PDT

INCIDENT SUMMARY

A wildfire named the TUNNEL 5 FIRE is burning near Underwood (Skamania County), Washington State, which was listed as a new wildfire on Sunday, July 2, 2023, at 1152 hours this morning.

(L) Photo Credit: Mid-Columbia Firefighters (Mid Columbia Fire and Rescue Facebook Page)

Not even an hour later, the fire was reported to have reached 25 acres in size.

Skamania Fire District 1 was dispatched as a mutual aid resource for neighboring District 3 for a wildfire incident near MP 61 on SR 14. Aircraft and additional resources were then ordered.

Per the wildcad fire system, they are showing dispatched additional resources: SA Div 1, E-9462, Crew 22, E-602, P-701, E-601, Crew 3-1.

Fire behavior was reported as extreme with a high rate of spread and threat potential to about 100 structures per the WA DNR Fire Officials.

RESOURCES

Resources include Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, WA DNR, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and Skamania Fire District #1 and 3.

EVACUATIONS IN EFFECT

Evacuations are in effect for COOK-UNDERWOOD ROAD and ANY STRUCTURES 2-MILES RADIUS AROUND THE FIRE CONDUCTED BY THE SKAMANIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.

Evacuations Alerts: https://signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=45528

WEATHER REPORT

Current conditions at our Underwood station just a few miles northwest of the SR 14/SR 141 junction: Temp 83°F Dew 43°F Wind N 6mph gust 11mph. (Source: AgWeatherNet)

(L) Photo Credit: Skamania Fire District

THROUGH THE EYES OF SOCIAL MEDIA

“Crazy day in Gorge. This fire is in between the tunnels and Swell City. I think it’s already taken two homes and just took a third. There are five homes to the east that are all in immediate danger.” – Local Photographer (White Swan)

ABOUT UNDERWOOD, WASHINGTON

The Underwood area is in an incorporated and in the southeast corner of the County and runs along SR 14 at the Confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers. It is located across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon, and about two miles west of White Salmon, Washington.

(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog