Williams Mine Fire

10/10/2024

Update: Williams Mine Fire ⚠

The Closure Area for the Willimas Mine Fire will be rescinded at 12:01 am on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Although the closure Order will no longer be in effect Fire operations are still ongoing in the area.
Please remain aware of your surroundings as the area can be susceptible to falling trees, landslides, and contain stump holes in the ground. For Safety Tips for Burned Areas see: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/giffordpinchot/home/?cid=FSEPRD937033

More information and updates will be shared as things progress.

Photo 1 by: Mount St Helens Institute Climbing Steward Gabrielle Orsi.
Photo 2 by: Amanda Dales, USFS Fire Prevention Technician (8/9)

10/03/2024

Prescribed fire Postponed until Further Notice. See below post for more information.

Prescribed Fire in the Upper White Salmon River

Participants of the Columbia Gorge Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (CGTREX) will be performing a prescribed burn in the Upper White Salmon River six miles north of Trout Lake tomorrow Thursday, October 3. Smoke may be visible North of Troute Lake and surrounding area.
The burn will take place in partnership with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mt. Adams Resource Stewards and is part of the larger Upper White Salmon River Restoration Project. This project aims to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health and resilience to future wildfires.

For more information and full press release: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/giffordpinchot/news-events

For Prescribed Fire Information Line for CGTREX Burns: (347) 709-2587

photo courtesy of Mt. Adams Resource Stewards.

10/02/2024

Prescribed Fire in the Upper White Salmon River

Participants of the Columbia Gorge Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (CGTREX) will be performing a prescribed burn in the Upper White Salmon River six miles north of Trout Lake tomorrow Thursday, October 3. Smoke may be visible North of Troute Lake and surrounding area.
The burn will take place in partnership with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mt. Adams Resource Stewards and is part of the larger Upper White Salmon River Restoration Project. This project aims to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health and resilience to future wildfires.

For more information and full press release: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/giffordpinchot/news-events

For Prescribed Fire Information Line for CGTREX Burns: (347) 709-2587

photo courtesy of Mt. Adams Resource Stewards.

09/27/2024

Incident Command has transition from the Type III Team back to the local forest unit.

Incident Command of the Williams Mine Fire has transitioned back to the Forest.

09/24/2024

Fall is upon us but it doesn't mean fire season is over in the Pacific Northwest. With temperatures forecast to be above average this week, fire behavior is expected to increase across Oregon and Washington.

It's important to stay diligent and continue doing your part to prevent human-caused wildfires.

09/19/2024

A new Forest Order was released today outlining the areas that have been opened or are still closed due to the Willimas Mine Fire.
The Mt. Adams Wilderness Area and all trails within and areas surrounding the fire remain closed.
FR-23 is now open, FR -5603 is now open, and The Pacific Crest Trail from FR-8810 to FR-5603 is now open.

Williams Mine Fire Area and Road Closure ⚠

A new Forest Order was released today outlining the areas that have been opened or are still closed due to the Willimas Mine Fire.
The Mt. Adams Wilderness Area and all trails within and areas surrounding the fire remain closed. FR-23 is now open, FR -5603 is now open, and The Pacific Crest Trail from FR-8810 to FR-5603 is now open. More information and changes will be updated as they occur.

For full closure order see: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices/?aid=89613
For Fire Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/giffordpinchot/fire

✅Roads now open for travel:
- NFS Road 2300 from its junction with NFS Road 90 to its southern border.
- NFS Road 5603 from its junction with Pacific Crest Trail to the eastern boundary of the GPNF.

✅Campgrounds now open: (Note: these sites are open but NOT SERVICED, this includes toilets, pack out all trash/waste)
- Horseshoe Lake Campground
- Olallie Lake Campground
- Killen Creek Campground
- Keenes Horse camp
- Takhlakh Lake Campground and day use area.

✅Trails Open:
- The Pacific Crest Trail from Forest Road 8810 to Forest Road 5603

⛔Trail Closures:
- PINE WAY #71
- TAK TAK MEADOW #136
- TABLE MOUNTAIN #18
- WICKY CREEK #38
- HIGH CAMP #10
- RILEY SOUTH
- SOUTH CLIMB #183
- PCNST #2000
- MUDDY MEADOWS #13
- ROUND THE MOUNTAIN #9
- SNIPES MOUNTAIN #11
- HIGHLINE #114
- GOTCHEN CREEK #40
- SALT CREEK #75
- STAGMAN RIDGE #12
- SHORTHORN #16
- TAKHLAKH LOOP #134
- WICKY SHELTER
- BIG TREE XC LOOP -SNO-R8020
- COLD SPRINGS #72
- CROFTON RIDGE #73
- LOOKING GLASS LAKE
- WHITE SALMON RIVER
- DIVIDE CAMP #112
- KILLEN CREEK #113
- BUCK CREEK #54
- RILEY CAMP #64
- MORRISON CREEK #39
- BIG TREE #51

09/16/2024

In some areas, new growth is sprouting from the roots of plants burned by the Williams Mine Fire

09/16/2024

Wicky Shelter and Morrison Creek Forest Camp on 9/14/24. The fire burned near them, but protective measures were taken and the historic buildings were unharmed.

09/16/2024

Some views along FS Rd 8040 on 9/14/24, showing the Williams Mine Fire in areas previously burned by the Cascade Creek Fire in 2012. A little smoke is visible in the distance from near the South Climb Trailhead. This is well inside the Mt. Adams Wilderness.

09/16/2024

Williams Mine Fire Quick Facts 9-16-2024

Acres: 13,092
Containment: 31%
Personnel: 117

Send a message to learn more

09/15/2024

Two firefighters from an engine from Olympic National Forest work on chainsaw maintenance at South Climb Trailhead on 9-14-24.

09/15/2024

A major problem on Williams Mine Fire has been dealing with large quantities of slash and woody debris. This ranges from low branches trimmed off trees to large logs from the many trees killed by previous fires. In some areas, the best option has been to move the debris away from the fire and stack it in a huge pile. This pile, known as "Slash Mountain", will be burned during the winter. In other areas, slash was chipped or scattered outside of the burn area.