Thursday’s wind and fire activity tested the control lines around the Goat Rocks Fire, according to an incident management team update on Friday.
The lines all successfully held, according to the update.
Additionally, the fire consumed additional vegetation in the Coal Creek drainage, reducing the chance that it will cross the control lines in the future, according to the update.
A combination of handlines and dozer lines now provide communities with four layers of control and contingency lines, according to incident management. Firefighters are in place near structures, testing sprinklers and patrolling.
The fire had burned 4,552 acres and was still 0% contained as of Friday morning.
Thursday night brought lower humidity than normal, meaning the fire was more active Friday morning, according to incident management.
Friday’s winds were lighter than Thursday’s with an average wind speed of 9 mph and gusts up to 15 mph, according to incident management.
Easterly winds continue to bring in dry air, with the relative humidity dropping to 24%. Temperatures in the fire area will peak around 80 degrees, while it will be 85-87 degrees in Packwood, according to the Friday update.
Engine patrols will continue both day and night throughout communities closest to the fire and along U.S. Highway 12, according to incident management.
Areas northeast of Butter Creek and north of U.S. Highway 12 are still at “be ready” evacuation status and include the Lower Timberline and Goat Rocks neighborhoods. The Upper Timberline neighborhood remains at “be set” evacuation status.
Campfire bans and restrictions are still in place, for a full list of fire restrictions visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices.
For information about road and trail closures visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1060181.pdf.
A community meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at the Packwood Fire Department, located at 12953 U.S. Highway 12. The meeting was streamed online via Facebook Live @GiffordPinchot.
For more information on the fire, visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8415/ or to ask a direct question, email 2022.GoatRocks@firenet.gov or call 360-4168.
