Kalama fire surpasses 100 acres

The Kalama fire on the south side of Mount St. Helens grew to approximately 107 acres over the weekend, according to an update issued on Sept. 12. 

The cause of the fire, which is located southeast of the Kalama Horse Camp, is currently under investigation. 

A community meeting is set up for 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12. It will be held at the Yale Elementary School Gymnasium and all are encouraged to attend.  Most of the smoke in the area is from the Cedar Creek Fire in Oregon, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

“The drizzle we had over night and this morning has helped with fine fuel moisture content. Fine fuels are what allow a fire to move,” the Forest Service stated in a social media post. “The moisture will mostly be absorbed by the root systems and have little effect to the heavier fuels that are burning, smoldering; but, it will give us time to improve containment lines and set us up to use fire to remove the fine fuels and reinforce our containment lines.”

As of the Sept. 12 update, evacuation notifications remained in place, but they were set to be reviewed for possible reductions as contained percentages were established, stated the U.S. Forest Service.

The evacuation notifications are as follows:

Level 3 evacuations, which means “go now,” include: 

• North to south: From the headwaters of the South Fork of the Toutle River, south to Forest Road 7550. 
• East to west: From the Skamania County and Cowlitz County border west five miles into Cowlitz County.

Level 2 evacuations, which means “be set,” include:

• North to south: South from the 7550 Road to south of Merrill Lake.
• East to west: Skamania County and Cowlitz County border west five miles into Cowlitz County.

Level 1 evacuations, which means “be ready,” include: 

• North to south: From the Level 2, Set Evacuation zone south of Merrill Lake, south to state Route 503, including the cities of Cougar and Yale.
• East to west: From the Skamania County and Cowlitz County border following state Route 503 five miles into Cowlitz County.

As of Sept. 12, the fire was located on a cliff face on “extremely steep ground,” stated the Forest Service. Firefighters were preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain.

“Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping,” stated the Forest Service. “The potential for fire growth remains, but containment lines are being put in place and contain percentage information will be updated when the lines are complete and holding.”

Closures of trails as of Sept. 12 included the Cinnamon Trail No. 204, the Kalama Ski Trail No. 231, the Toutle Trail No. 238, the Fossil Trail No. 242, and the Kalama Falls Trail No. 242A. 

Road closures included Forest Road No. 81 from the junction with the state Route 503 spur to the junction with Forest Service Road No. 8100-830 and all associated Forest Service spur roads off Forest Road No. 81; Forest Road No. 8117 and all associated Forest Service spur roads off of Forest Road No. 8117; and Forest Road No. 8122 and all associated spur roads off of Forest Road No. 8122.

To view current information, go online to bit.ly/3BvAPOS.