Skies over south Chehalis at mid-afternoon today.
Updated at 5:11 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lewis County’s Department of Emergency Management wants the public to know the smoke being seen around the area today is traveling from the large wildfires on the eastern side of the mountains.
“There are no fires at this time in Lewis County,” DEM Manager Steve Mansfield said.
Lewis County 911 and the fire departments are getting lots of calls from people asking what’s burning, Mansfield said.
The state Department of Natural Resources and weather people are confirming it’s coming from the east, Mansfield said. And perhaps a little bit from the Alder Lake fire, he said.
South Lewis County is experiencing it to the degree that in places you can’t see the blue sky and smoke is sitting in low valleys, Mansfield said.
However, if anyone sees flames, or sees a column of smoke, they do need to call 911, Mansfield said.
Mansfield said he talked with Lewis County Fire District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel today and was told the Gore Road fire in Onalaska is maybe putting off little wisps of smoke.
And people are keeping an eye on the other places where there have been large fires locally, such as Gish Road and Centralia-Alpha Road, he said.
The Tenino Fire Department says their phone has been ringing off the hook this afternoon with callers wanting to know what is burning as well. They’ve verified with their central dispatch in Olympia the haze is coming from the east.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Phyllis,
My family lived in Pleasant Valley for 35 years and that fire IS in Lewis county.
I hope the valley is safe.
I saw a news shot last night about a guy whose house was saved in Eastern WA. What he did after the last fire was build a retaining pond surrounding his house, cleared dead brush and had a couple of new connections put in that handle an inch and a half hose. It was an initial outlay of money but saved his house. The ponds kept the fire from burning up to his house and the hoses kept the house from getting hot.
Like Bill S says the forest service is stretched thin. All 28, 000 of their personnel have been deployed. In some cases we may be left on our own until resources can get to our properties.
To demonstrate how short they are on personnel they have asked anyone who has state certified fire fighter training to volunteer to help. We are in an unprecedented period of dryness and need to take steps to protect ourselves and stay safe.
My prayers and best wishes go out to the folks on the front lines fighting for us.
Phyllis,
The County line runs West heading out from the old DNR Campground, with Lewis County South and Thurston County North.
From what you are saying, the fire sounds like it’s in Lewis County.
Call Mansfield and ask him what the plan is and let us know.
Phyllis, the forest service fire fighting force and equipment is stretched pretty thin with all of the eastside fires. The Gifford Pinchot N.F. only has a few pieces of equipment and I believe one small crew in the north end. Everything has been steadily reduced in the many years without significant west side fires.
I do know that they have an extremely experienced manager on that fire who has been working 16 hour days since they started on it. I don’t know how much help they are getting from other departments or resources.
I hope your home is safe. I have a state forest next to my home which is full of fuel. I keep my fingers crossed that a fire doesn’t start there this year as I will lose my home.
Just talk to relation in Colorado and they are also getting the smoke there from the fires. They live in Longmont Colorado.
I live on Pleasant Valley Road in Mineral, WA. Surprise – I live in Lewis County and pay Lewis County taxes. I am currently looking at the Elbe Alder Lake Fire as I look out my window. Don’t tell me that there isn’t a fire in Lewis County. Elbe Alder Lake Fire may actually be in Pierce County, but if it comes down the hill it will be burning homes and farms in Lewis County. Everyone acts like this is out in the woods and doesn’t matter. This fire has been burning for 11 days – don’t tell me it is 25 acres! It was 25 acres 10 days ago! We are concerned!
Thank you for your news site. It is very informative.