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

had an interesting view of the fire from the east side of Rainier yesterday... from Whitman Crest it almost looked like Adams was erupting out its eastern flank.

Here's a similar view taken from near Pan Point looking across Unicorn Saddle about 1:00 pm yesterday.

Great photo's! catching sight of that would give me pause for sure

Nice photos, Jerm, Pete, and Ron! Glad everybody on the south side got out OK.

Unfortunately, the fire has increased more than tenfold in size overnight and is raging uncontained. There's now a map of the fire perimeter, and sadly, it looks like it's encroaching on or even consuming Bird Creek Meadows, which is one of the prettiest spots on Mt Adams (or any of the Cascade volcanoes):

www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/news/2008/20080714a-n...gs-fire-update.shtml

Cold Springs Fire near Mt. Adams estimated at 6,000 acres

VANCOUVER, WA – Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire officials estimate the Cold Springs Fire has grown to be 6,000 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 Road 8040 accessing the trailhead has been temporarily closed. Forest Roads 80 and 82 are also closed at the Forest Boundary north of Trout Lake, closing access to all roads, trails and campgrounds east of Forest Road 23.

The fire is currently 0% contained with no estimated date for containment. The fire is burning on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the Yakama Reservation, and is threatening Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managed land.

A type II interagency management team from Central Oregon is scheduled to take over management of the fire at 6 p.m. today.

More than 200 personnel are working on the fire. This includes fire crews from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with support from Yakama Nation and Washington State DNR. Personnel are conducting initial attack suppression of the wildland fire with hand crews and wildland fire engines. Nine 20-person crews including two type 1 hot shot crews along with 10 engines and six dozers are working the fire this morning.

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 drifting east towards eastern Washington and Oregon. No structures or communities are immediately threatened.

The fire was first reported on Saturday evening, July 12. A lightning strike from a thunderstorm on June 29, 2008 is thought to be the cause of the fire.

The good news is that there will be some great morel and ski combo trips next spring...

Glad everyone seems to be safe!

We skied the chutes Saturday and saw the fire start when we were in Trout Lake Saturday night!

- Matt

As much as this fire's a bummer, it may make for some interesting skiing in the Spring....

Kudos to the fire folk for apparently affording everyone safe passage out of the affected area!