[1]Looking south across Alder Lake at mid-day on Tuesday. / Courtesy photo by Raymond Schrader
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A lightning-caused forest fire northwest of Mineral has grown from 60 acres to 173 acres since Friday and is progressing to the southeast, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
More than 200 members of the public attended a community meeting at the Mineral School last night to hear information about the wildfire and this afternoon, a level one evacuation notice was issued for people living on or near the Pleasant Valley Road.
A Code Red notification was sent out by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at about 3:45 p.m. today, to those who have registered their phone numbers with the emergency alert system.
“(Level one) means that danger exists and you should begin making arrangements to evacuate,” the alert stated. “Evacuations at this time are voluntary.”
Pleasant Valley Road is northwest of Mineral.
If the fire advances to necessitate a level two evacuation notice, residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family or friends outside of the affected area, according to the Lewis County Department of Emergency Management. Those who choose to stay should be ready to go at a moments notice.
If a level two evacuation occurs, shelter would be setup in the Morton area, according to the sheriff’s office.
The fire was first reported two weeks ago, burning just south of Alder Lake. It is approximately four miles west of Elbe, five miles from Mineral and seven miles south of Eatonville.
It is being managed by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the state Department of Natural Resources.
One hundred and five personnel are assigned to the fire, which is being battled with heavy equipment, fire engines, a helicopter and hand crews.
The fire behavior today was described as moderate, creeping, rolling and occasional torching. It’s burning in steep rugged terrain on a 60 percent slope.
The incident commander’s primary objective is to stop and hold eastward spread of the fire.
Fifteen homes are threatened, as are 20 other structures, all on the Lewis County side of the fire, according to Public Information Officer Kristen Bowles. The fire is only two percent contained. Forest Service Roads 74 and 7409 have been closed.
Alder Lake is at the intersection of Lewis, Thurston and Pierce counties.
A level three evacuation notice, if issued, would mean leave immediately because danger is current or imminent.
The Lewis County Sheriff’ Office indicated in its Code Red alert that people can get additional information from the sheriff’s office website [2] or call the DEM information line at 360-740-1152. Locals may contact Alder Lake Fire Information at 360-623-5525.
Emergency Management recommends people continue to monitor their local news media as well.
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Other Resources:
• Northwest Large Fire Information Summary, here [3]
• InciWeb Incident Information System, here [4]
• The Forest Service-Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Facebook, here [5]
• Sign up for Code Red alerts, here [6]
[7]The south shore of Alder Lake dips into Lewis County. / Courtesy photo by Raymond Schrader