Gnarl Ridge Fire Update 9-26-08
Incident: Gnarl Ridge Wildland Fire
Released: 9/26/2008
Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team
Carl West, Incident Commander
Gnarl Ridge Fire Daily Update
Friday, September 26, 2008
Construction of fireline around the perimeter of the Gnarl Ridge Fire is essentially complete. "All lines are in, and the crews will be working on mop-up and patrol," said Mike Weltch, acting Operations Chief for planning. The southwest portion of the fire is bounded by rocky slopes and glaciers, so no line construction has been required.
Today, crews on the firelines will be engaged in extinguishing all hot spots within 100 feet of the fireline. Only after this mop-up is accomplished will the fire be considered contained.
No fire spread is expected over the next 24 to 48 hours, but drier conditions will bring increased fire activity. "Relative humidities in the 30% range will help you see how good your mop-up was," Roddy Bauman told firefighters this morning. The Fire Behavior Analyst went on to say that fuels dampened by recent rains will be drying out enough to burn again unless the heat is completely extinguished.
Feller-bunchers and other heavy equipment are working to remove dangerous snags along the road between Inspiration Point and Cloud Cap Inn.
A few resources are being sent from the Gnarl Ridge Fire to new fires in Oregon. However, most resources are being retained in order to complete the job of fully containing the fire.
Two injuries were reported yesterday. A firefighter suffered a toe injury when a log was dropped on his foot, and a firefighter suffered a severely bruised leg when he slipped and fell while walking on the fireline. In addition, a firefighter with a potential allergic reaction to a bee sting was escorted down the trail and away from the fire by an Emergency Medical Technician.
A member of the fire team and an engine crew from Hood River Ranger District visited Pine Grove Elementary School yesterday. The use of fire equipment was demonstrated, and the students were able to have their questions answered about the Gnarl Ridge Fire.
A community meeting was held in Parkdale last night. The audience engaged in discussion regarding firefighting strategy in the wilderness area. Also, appreciation was expressed by the community for the efforts of the firefighters.
Fire at a Glance (9/26/08)
Size: 3280 acres
Cause: Lightning on August 7th.
Location:
18 miles south of Hood River, OR and 7 miles south of Parkdale, OR
Evacuations: 18 homes
Containment: 38%
Expected Containment: 10/15/2008
Crews and Equipment:
Dozers: 5
Crews: 9 Type 1
10 Type 2
Helicopters: 2 Type 1 (Heavy Lift)
1Type 2 (Medium Lift)
1 Type 3 (Light)
Engines: 31
Total personnel: 807
Closures:
For complete closure information, please see Page 2 of this update.
Contact Us:
For additional information, please contact us at the Gnarl Ridge Incident Command Post (ICP), Hood River County Fairgrounds, daily from 7am-9pm, at (541) 354-1836.
Additional Gnarl Ridge fire information is available online at http://www.inciweb.org/.
EMERGENCY FIRE CLOSURE
Until further notice the following campgrounds, trails and roads on the Mt. Hood National Forest are closed due to activity from the Gnarl Ridge Fire:
- Tilly Jane Campground
- Cloud Cap Campground
- Kinnikinnick Campground (Laurance Lake)
- Little John Sno·Park
- Red Hill Road #16 and associated spurs
- Cloud Cap Road #3512
- Forest Road 3520 and associated spurs
- Forest Road 2840 and associated spurs (Laurance Lake Road)
- Forest Road 3511 and associated spurs
- Forest Road 1811
- Forest Road 1810-640
- Timberline Trail #600 from the intersection with the Newton Creek Trail #646 north
- and west to intersection with the McGee Creek Trail #627
- East Fork Trail #650
- Bluegrass Ridge Trail #647
- Cooper Spur Trail #600-B
- Elk Meadows Trail #645 north of the intersection with the Newton Creek Trail
- Elk Meadows Perimeter Trail#645-A
- Lamberson Spur Trail #644
- Gnarl Ridge Trail #652
- Polallie Ridge #643
- Tamanawas Falls Trail #650-A
- Tamanawas Tie Trail #650-B
- Wagon Road #642
- Tilly Jane Trail #448
- Tilly Jane Trail #600-A
- Tilly Jane Trail #643
- Elk Cove Trail #631
- Pinnacle Ridge Trail #639
- Vista Ridge Trail # 626
- Mazama Trail #625 (a.k.a. Cathedral Ridge Trail)
For additional closure information please contact the Hood River Ranger District, during business hours, Monday through Friday, at 541-352-6002.
