THIS PHOTO OF the Colvin Creek Fire just northeast of Woodland was taken from Davis Peak Road on Sun., July 19. As of the morning of July 20, the fire had burned through about 70 acres of brush.
ONE OF SEVERAL helicopters dispatched to the Colvin Creek Fire just northeast of Woodland is shown here Sun., July 19, dipping into the North Fork of the Lewis River to get some water to help put out the blaze.
WOODLAND – A 13-acre forest fire near Yacolt has been contained while another one just northeast of Woodland has burned through about 70 acres of brush and forest, and continues to burn as of the morning of July 20.
According to Washington State Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Janet Pearce, the Woodland area fire, named the Colvin Creek Fire, was reported just after noon on Sun., July 19, near the intersection of Fredrickson Road and State Route 503 in Cowlitz County.
Pearce said an incident management team was sent to help and set up a base camp at Castle Rock Elementary School. Also dispatched to help contain the fire were three helicopters, three air tankers and a ground crew.
“The smoke (from the Colvin Creek Fire) has been very visible,” Pearce said. “I certainly hope we can get the word out that residents are going to see a bunch of smoke, but people should know that no homes are threatened at this time.”
Woodland resident Rob Flanagan helped keep area residents informed with posts on his Facebook page.
“Some people have been asking for updates on the fire,’’ Flanagan posted Monday morning. “Here is a summary of what the State of Washington Rep (sic) who is at the end of my driveway said. The fire took off through a clear-cut that had a lot of dry branches down and climb (sic) the hill yesterday. When it hit standing forest it slowed down significantly. Crews from Yakima and Utah will be here today. Helicopters and plane drops will continue today. Fires this large don't just go away instantly it will take time but he said homeowners really need not worry right now.’’
The cause of the Colvin Creek Fire had not yet been determined as of 10 a.m. on July 20.
The fire near Yacolt, named the Big Creek Fire, started the afternoon of July 17, near the East Fork of the Lewis River, near the mouth of Dole Valley. The fire burned on forest reproduction land owned by Weyerhaeuser, Co. Crews from area fire departments and crews from New Mexico and Larch Corrections Center worked over the weekend to push the fire back.
Crews had the fire controlled on July 18. Pearce said crews were still working to mop up the site of the Big Creek Fire on July 20, and some smoke will still be visible from that area.
Pearce said state fire fighters also dealt with another smaller brush fire over the weekend just west of Longview. The Germany Creek Fire, a five-acre brush fire, broke out around 4 p.m. on July 16.
For updates on these and other brush/forest fires around the area, check the Washington State Department of Natural Resource Facebook page, the organization’s Twitter feed or their website, www.dnr.wa.gov.
