FINAL FIRE REPORT | JULY 28, 2023, FRIDAY

(L) Photo Credit | WA DNR Fire – Chelan

Overall Incident Summary

A wildfire incident broke out on Newell Road, about five miles west of Dot Road and 17 miles east of Goldendale, Washington. Here are the highlights broken down by each operational day under each Sit Rep.

Overall Incident Cooperators include WA DNR, FEMA, WA Fire Marshal’s Office, Tulalip Bay F&R, White Salmon FD, Montesano FD, SCFD3, Wahkiakum Fire District 4, Benton County FD1, Klickitat County Sheriffs Office/EMA, Red Cross, WSP, NWIMT8 and Klickitat County Fire District 12, are some of those involved in fire suppression, law enforcement, shelter operations, mutual aid, and State Mob.

SIT REP 1: July 21, 2023, Friday

A wildfire broke out on July 21, 2023, in Klickitat County, east of Goldendale, Washington, where it quickly changed from a wildfire to a firestorm, which we deemed as such due to its fiery nature of spreading and burning up everything in its path.

The fire was first reported as 100-150 acres around 1612 hours PT when fire chasers and news broke the story of a new start.

The fire pushed hard due to high winds to the east making it challenging to fire crews to access the fire. Two Super Scoopers were en route just before 1700 hours PT from the Moses Lake Air Tanker Base. (a place we know intimately!)

At almost 1730 hours, it was stated by Social Media users and fire chasers, the Lead plane was overhead and several air tankers were en route and soon to inbound to the fire line. The fire started to continue to push towards Dot Road where additional resources were being repositioned to protect high-value assets in the area. More resources were being called urgently to respond to help with fire suppression, expanding evacuations east to East Road and north to Bickleton Highway and putting into place structure protection.

(L) Photo Credit | AlertWildfire Fire Cam

State Mobe was approved just after 1800 hours. The fire decided to jump Dot Road and was reported it was about 500 yards of being on the other side of the road. Level 2 and 3 evacuations were being posted via the Klickitat County 911 DEM page. Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations would expand to other areas.

The fire initially was listed at 600 acres with a 0% containment status by 1839 hours (per WA DNR), prompting a quick egress of fire suppression and a heavy fire load of resources responding with priority status to the scene right away. Local and county resources descended upon the area with a WA DNR strike team en route just after 1800 hours on a Friday night. A Type 3 IMT was immediately dispatched and en route to the scene, as well. Structures would be threatened. Evacuations were in effect and a Red Cross shelter was opened at the Goldendale Middle School located at 520 E. Collins Street in Goldendale, Washington.

With so many escalations of Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations, a Red Cross Shelter was opened at the Goldendale Middle School at 520 E. Collins in Goldendale.

Photographers in the area reported the old iconic and popular destination of the old Dot Schoolhouse has sadly burned. Its condition is unknown at the time of this final update.

SIT REP 2: July 22, 2023, Saturday

Around 1000 hours into Day 2, the fire had more than quadrupled in size to 30,000 acres with a 0% containment status. It could now be seen on both the Anderson and Status Peak AlertWildfire cameras.

Photo (below) Credit: WA DNR

“The Newell Road fire is one of the toughest fires to date this year. High-speed winds and dry fields are making it challenging. We have the best of the best on this fire — over 17 air resources, 7 strike teams, 35 engines, and so many brave hard-working committed local, state, and federal firefighters and leaders. Please hold all our firefighters and the community in your thoughts and prayers.” – Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands

More evacuations were occurring including the area of Newell Road near Bickleton.

Just after 1600 hours, the fire had jumped the Middle Road, south Schrantz Road near the solar farms, causing more upgraded evacuations. Air Tankers including T92 were in the area dropping retardant. By 1730 hours PT, there were five LATs and two VLATs, working the eastern end of the fire. Some VLATs were said to be diverted to the GOLDEN EAGLE FIRE located in Oregon.

An immediate threat was being addressed, when fire resources were urgently sent to the east side of Rock Creek where the fire was nearing a buried gas line with the fire also cresting a nearby hill. Structure protection resources were being implemented in another area.

The fire had threatened homes, wheat fields, solar and power windmills, and livestock.

Fire Stats: 30,000 acres. 10% contained. Unknown cause. Under investigation.

SIT REP 3: July 23, 2023, Sunday

The Wahkiakum Fire District 4 is one of many that responded to this fire. (Photo Credit)

Fire Officials surveyed the fire from air and said it looked good but fire crews were still being challenged by fire conditions at the Rock Creek drainage. This was said to be the southwest side of the fire where they observed fire behavior to be very active.

SIT REP4: July 24, 2023, Monday

The cause was unknown and still listed as under investigation.

White Salmon FD members respond to the fire and this is what this fire looked like when they arrived on the scene of the fire. (Photo Credit)

The State of Washington requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) to help fight this wildfire, which was approved by FEMA. This would be the fourth FMAG for wildfires in 2023, alone and this is not even considered to be the heightened in our fire season as of yet.

Fire Stats: 56,143 acres. 20% contained.

SIT REP 5: July 25, 2023, Tuesday

Favorable morning weather conditions allowed firefighters to focus on suppression efforts on the northwest corner of the fire, where fire behavior was still being observed as active. On the northern edge, the fire was reported to have been spotted over Dot Road earlier. Cold trailing efforts continued in the southwestern area.

The town of Roosevelt was downgraded to a Level 1 evacuation (BE READY). All other evacuations still remained in place. Road closures were in effect and those only being allowed through the hard closure, were those from local residents, employees of Solar and Wind Farms, PUD, the USPS, Republic Services, Ag workers on the far east of the county, and emergency traffic only. Sheriff Deputies were patrolling to keep all unauthorized persons out of the area.

A Fire Community Meeting was held in person at the Goldendale Middle School Gym, the same location where the Red Cross Shelter was located, and virtually on Microsoft Teams. The video link is located here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094863380671.

Stats: 59,8585 acres. 40% contained. 561 personnel, 49 engines, 9 dozers, 11 hand crews, 8 water tenders, 127 overhead, 4 copters, and ATs as needed. 1 Firefighter injury: Tender rollover. Transported by air to a nearby hospital.

SIT REP 6: July 26, 2023 – Wednesday

The evening fire update stated the fire had burned additional land and destroyed a total of 61,833 acres but a sustained 40% containment status still remained in place.

Several volunteer teams with the IT Disaster Resource Center were providing communications support on both this wildfire and Oregon’s GOLDEN EAGLE FIRE. “Each location presents unique challenges due to infrastructure damage and the remote locale where resources are needed most. ” – ITDRC

Three members, two from the Montesano FD and the third from Aberdeen FD staff a MFD Brush 91 together as part of their wildland mutual aid/joint staffing agreement. (Photo Credit)

The spot fire on the east side of Dot Road has had the forward progression stopped. Favorable overnight weather conditions, allowed firefighters to allow them to conduct firing operations to strengthen northern containment lines. Due to the stopover Dot Road containment lines, a second Red Cross shelter was opened at the Grandview Middle School at 1401 W. 2nd Street, Grandview, Washington.

The US Army Corps of Engineers – Portland District ended up evacuating and closing their Rock Creek, Sundale, and Roosevelt parks due to the fire in those areas. (Photo Credit)

The Tulalip Bay FD joins the fire as part of the Strike team providing two of their rigs, Brush Truck 60 and Tender 60. | Photo Credit: TBFD

Fire Stats: 61,833 acres. 50% contained. 564 total personnel, 48 engines, 9 dozers, 11 hand crews, 10 water tenders, 3 skidgens, and 126 overhead members along with 4 helos and tankers as needed.

Skagit County Fire District 3 wildland firefighters were also present, which is their 3rd State Mob of the year.

SIT REP 7: July 27, 2023 – Thursday

(R) Photo Credit: SCFD3

Wednesday night’s cooler weather conditions, allowed for more time to gain a higher containment status and mopping up 50-100′ into the fire perimeter, strengthening the northwest flank as well as the 600-acre spot fire that moved towards Dot Road. The 30-acre fire east of Dot Road has been mopped up and is in patrol status.

Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue shows the poor fire conditions in the photo below. (Photo Credit CFR2)

Fire Stats: 61,313 acres. 71% contained. 415 total personnel, 30 engines, 5 dozers, 7 hand crews, 8 water tenders, 4 skidgens and 116 total overhead. 4 copters and tankers as needed.

SIT REP 8: July 28, 2023 – Friday

(L) Photo Credit: Hilary Franz

Fire activity remained low today as fire crews continued on suppression repair work on dozer lines, mopping up hot spots and strengthening the fire’s containment lines.

The Bickleton School spike camp closed at the end of the shift today. Fire managers will continue to demob resources. Transfer of command will transition on Sunday, July 30th, from the Type 2 IMT (NWIMT8) to local fire agencies.

The current fire behavior is listed as minimal, with creeping and smoldering.

The cost-to-date for fire suppression and containment efforts has reached a whopping $8.2 Million Dollars.

Fire Stats: 60,896 acres. 94% contained. 283 personnel. 14 engines, 4 dozers, 4 crews, 6 water tenders, 4 skidgens and 101 overhead. 4 copters and air tankers as needed.

Conditions in our state over the last week have been some of the worst we’ve experienced this year and we haven’t yet reached the peak of fire season. Please, do your part and support our heroic firefighters by being one less spark out on the landscape. – Hilary Franz

(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog