A fire burning on a ridge south of Packwood was likely sparked by lightning. / Courtesy photo by Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The latest report shows a forest fire burning about 10 miles south of Packwood is 10-plus acres, according to a spokesperson for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Spokesperson Ken Sandusky said his information is new this morning, and he wants folks to know they are working on it.
The fire can be seen from U.S. Highway 12, Randle and Packwood, he said.
It’s burning on a ridge called South Point in rough terrain with limited access, according to Sandusky.
“The general consensus is this is a holdover from lightening fires and has probably been smoldering since the night of the eighth,” he said.
Sandusky said 10 to 20 personnel are assigned to the fire, with about five to seven Cowlitz Valley Ranger District employees on the ground creating a fire line today.
South Point Lookout Trail 123 is closed because of the fire.
The good news is the coming weather conditions are expected to be less friendly to fire, he said.
Fires on the west side of the mountains are less frequent but can be larger and longer burning than those on the east side because of the nature of the fuels, he said.
The Forest Service is currently battling a nearly 10,000 acres fire in the Mount Adams area of the Gifford Pinchot.
Dennis, this may help a little bit … http://www.fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot – sharyn decker
Can you provide an update on this fire, or provide a website where I might go for an update?