As temperatures fall and humidity rises, fire crews are making “steady progress” on the Nakia Creek fire, which investigators now believe was sparked by people in the area.
Clark County fire marshals investigating the now nearly 1,800-acre fire believe it is “most probably” a human-caused situation, Fire Marshal Dan Young said Tuesday.
Investigators have asked for the public’s help in identifying a light-colored Subaru and group of people found near where the fire began on a ridge on Larch Mountain Oct. 9. Fire marshals believe some kind of pyrotechnic was involved, such as fireworks or incendiary rounds from a rifle, Young said.
Cell phone video showing the vehicle in the woods captures a loud bang, then pans left to a cloud of smoke. Young said the Fire Marshal’s Office has received several calls already.
The calming weather, additional resources and progress in establishing fire lines has put fire crews in a better position to start quenching the flames. But foggy conditions this morning made it difficult to see, posing a risk to firefighters.
The fire has increased from 1,565 acres on Monday to 1,796 acres as of Tuesday morning. Fire officials said this small amount of growth is natural as crews work to stop the fire’s spread. The steep slopes make the blaze difficult to contain.
Clearer skies mean helicopters and water-scooper planes will face fewer limitations than in recent days. Thick smoke and strong winds have kept the aircraft mostly grounded.
Evacuation orders have not changed, and no homes or structures are in immediate danger at this time. Clark County has an interactive map to monitor evacuation levels.
Heavy smoke has put air quality in Camas, 9 miles from the start of the fire, at unhealthy levels. The Portland-Vancouver area is seeing much of the same, but the possibility of rain Friday is expected to improve the situation.
