Dougan Falls fire blackens 45 acres

A fire near Dougan Falls on the Washougal River in western Skamania County has blackened about 45 acres, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

Clark County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Tim Dawdy, who assisted on the fire, said it is burning in timber slash in steep terrain at the end of the Washougal River Road, about 3 1/2 miles past Dougan Falls on Forest Road 2000.

The fire is burning in a remote area about 12 miles northeast of Washougal and no structures are threatened, Dawdy said.

The fire was reported about midday Monday, according to the DNR.

Dawdy said that by evening, two helicopters were working the fire along with two 20-person firefighting crews, four engines and three water tenders.

The fire was neither contained nor controlled, he said, but well-staffed, and more help will probably be on the way today.

“This isn’t going to be a fire that’s put out quickly. They’re going to be working on this for at least a week,” he said.

The fire is under investigation, but all signs point to it being human-caused, he said.

Dawdy called it another reminder to be careful outdoors and refrain from burning. “All our resources are very, very stressed right now,” he said.

Some forest road closures are in effect, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.