The Williams Mine fire, located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest east of Mount St. Helens and near Mount Adams, has grown to approximately 3,000 acres, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday morning.
The Williams Mine Fire was sparked by lightning and detected on the evening of Aug. 5.
Firefighters and aircraft provided a rapid response, but dry conditions allowed the fire to grow quickly, according to the release.
The fire is managed as a full-suppression fire. An incident management team was expected to be briefed on the fire Wednesday, according to a news release from the Forest Service.
The wind has driven the fire primarily south and has triggered evacuation warnings for Trout Lake and the surrounding area.
All evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat and Skamania County sheriff's offices.
Fire managers are working closely with county officials. Evacuation levels might change rapidly, according to the release.
Multiple local resources will continue aggressively working the fire, according to the release.
The fire is burning on steep ground in heavy timber. Warm temperatures are expected over the fire area, but winds are projected to be light, according to the release.
The Mount Adams Wilderness and areas surrounding the fire remain closed. That includes Forest Service Road 23 and the popular South Climb trailhead. Access is restricted to the Pacific Crest Trail between Williams Mine and Potato Hill.
The public is asked to avoid closed areas for their safety and the safety of the firefighters.
Multiple fires continue to burn across the Pacific Northwest region.
Fire restrictions are in effect in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal fire is prohibited outside of designated developed campgrounds.
For additional fire information, visit the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/giffordpinchot/fire or on Facebook at @GiffordPinchot.
Real time updates on the Williams Mine fire and information about evacuations can be viewed on their websites and Facebook pages at www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management and www.skamaniacounty.org/departments-offices/emergency-management.
For more information regarding closures on the Pacific Crest Trail, visit https://closures.pcta.org/.
