By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The fire that consumed and scorched 102 acres of private property in Onalaska is considered 70 percent contained this morning.
Since Monday it has been mostly smoldering and smoking, having burned young Douglas fir and alder as well as thick underbrush and leftovers from previous logging.
Tuesday August 11, 2015
No one has been injured and no structures lost, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
One hundred seventy people are assigned to work the fire today, along with 14 fire engines, three dozers and five water tenders, according to a spokesperson for its incident command team.
A fact sheet issued this morning from Public Information Officer Connie Birkland lists the fire as “human caused, under investigation”. But Birkland said they still don’t know what sparked the blaze on Sunday.
“We’re just making that statement,” Birkland said. “We just know there was no lightning at the time, no obvious evidence (like something from a power line); so we’re assuming it’s human caused.”
Birkland said they have no specific information about what did cause the fire. DNR investigators are responsible for finding that out, she said.
The fire scene is on a relatively flat ridge top south of Gish Road.
Birkland said they initially reported it was 103 acres, but revised that down after the individual who measured it said it was really closer to 102 acres.
Crews continue to mop up hot spots within the fire perimeter. Fire is minimal and continues to smolder in stumps and root system.
No new fire growth is expected, a relatively thin fire line was established early on.
They’re expecting slightly cooler weather with a chance of minimal rain and possibly lightning, Birkland said.
“We’re also being told it would take quite a bit of rain to make any difference for the fire,” she said.
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For background, read “Gish Road Fire: Smoldering and smoking could continue for weeks” from Tuesday August 11, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter