July 13, 2008: Mt Adams wildfire, Cold Springs TH closed

www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_0713...ire_SW.50e19085.html

Wildfire burning near Mount Adams
03:42 PM PDT on Sunday, July 13, 2008
By SUSAN WYATT / KING5.com Staff

SEATTLE - A wildfire is burning about 11 miles northeast of Trout Lake and smoke is visible from locations around southwest Washington and northwest Oregon.

The KING 5 newsroom received several calls from people concerned that Mount Adams was erupting.

Paul Ries at the Interagency Fire Center said crews have been sent from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to battle the blaze, which is about 100 acres in heavy trees. A tanker from Troutdale is assisting.

Access to the Cold Springs/South Climb Trailhead has been closed temporarily. The trailhead serves as a primary access point for climbers. There are a number of vehicles at the trailhead, and the Forest Service is coordinating safe departure as climbers descend and leave the area.

"The fire is in a remote area with many dead trees so as always our highest priority is the safety of the public and firefighters," said Nancy Ryke, Mount Adams District Ranger. "We will monitor the situation and, based upon the status of the fire, will assess any additional closures."

A lightning strike from a thunderstorm earlier this month is thought to be the cause of the fire.

Lots of good photos at: www.king5.com/perl/common/slideshow/sspo...cation=www.king5.com

More info and photos on the USFS website:

www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/news/2008/20080713b-c...s-fire-1500hrs.shtml

Cold Springs Fire estimated at 500+ acres in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest


VANCOUVER, WA – Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire officials estimate the Cold Springs Fire has grown to 500 plus acres. The wildland fire in the Mount Adams Ranger District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest has closed access temporarily to the Cold Springs/South Climb Trailhead which serves as a primary access point for climbers of Mt. Adams (12, 276 elevation) in southwest Washington.

Forest Roads 8040 accessing the trailhead has been temporarily closed. Forest Roads 23, 80 and 82 are also closed at the Forest Boundary north of Trout Lake. There are a number of vehicles at the trailhead, and the Forest Service is coordinating safe departure as climbers descend and leave the area.

A type II interagency management team has been ordered and is scheduled to take over management of the fire beginning Monday, July 14.

Fire crews from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are conducting initial attack suppression of the wildland fire with hand crews and wildland fire engines.

Three air tankers, one heavy firefighting helicopter, and one medium sized firefighting helicopter are assisting ground crews in the suppression of the fire.

The fire is located about 11-miles northeast of Trout Lake, Washington. Smoke from the fire is visible from as far away as the Portland/Vancouver area to the west, and Yakima, Washington to the east.

The fire was first reported at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. A lightning strike from a thunderstorm earlier this month is thought to be the cause of the fire.

Another couple angles...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2667250034_77299eb6cf.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2666426605_ab888cd1a9.jpg?v=0

Definitely added some urgency to our skiing!

my self and 5 friends were above the fire. For awhile it looked like the campground might be overtaken. The fire jumped the road below Cold springs campground. The forest service handled it very well. I had a seat above the fire as about forty of us were held  from descending to the campground . Amazing the efforts that were thrown at this fire, aerial tankers and helicopters with 500 gal water buckets. One right after another .Very professional and impressive.

my self and 5 friends were above the fire. For awhile it looked like the campground might be overtaken. The fire jumped the road below Cold springs campground. The forest service handled it very well. I had a seat above the fire as about forty of us were held  from descending to the campground . Amazing the efforts that were thrown at this fire, aerial tankers and helicopters with 500 gal water buckets. One right after another .Very professional and impressive.

Yeah it felt like Pearl Harbor up there. What time and where did they hold you from descending? We came down around 3 or so (?) and they had just started escorting cars through.

I came down from the Lunch counter around noon and was hailed by the ranger on a small ridge below south butte. This was about 1pm and at that point they were letting people through to the campground. While I was there watching the fire spread it crossed the road below the campground. I hung out near the ranger and helped spot and inform so i listened to the radio traffic. they were very busy.Then the decision was made to keep people up high in the snow and at one point we were told we might have to bivey for the night.
We had a commanding veiw on that ridge. Then maybe 230 or 3 the fire pushed by the wind to the east and heavily assaulted by air came under control on its western edge. It was interesting to see how the air tankers were guided in by the smaller spotter planes.
We ( about 40) were given the ok to go down in groups to the campground and then again the 5 cars at atime down to trout lake. We quickly packed up our gear while looking over our shoulder at the black smoke.
On the way down we drove through the fire retardant on the road for about maybe a quarter mile . We felt good to just get out there .It could have been a bad scene if the fire hit the campground full on.
I'm glad you made it out.