GLENWOOD — The Cougar Creek Fire could be contained sometime this week, according to fire officials, as cool, moist weather boosted firefighting efforts over the weekend.
The 53,523-acre wildfire burning near Mount Adams was 95 percent contained Sunday morning, according to a news release from fire officials.
But full containment will take at least two or three more days, said Marc Peebles, spokesman for the incident command team managing firefighting efforts. Firefighters are bolstering containment lines and mopping up hot spots that could flare up as warm, dry weather returns this week, Peebles said.
Crews working the fire have been aided by temperatures that were 5-10 degrees below normal for the season, as well as recent rain, Peebles said.
In addition to containing the fire, crews are starting work to control erosion and help the area recover. Fire crews are constructing dips and bars to divert water from the containment lines and minimize erosion. Roads damaged by fire equipment are also being repaired.
The fire was caused by a lightning strike Aug. 10.
The fire has caused closures at all state Department of Natural Resources trust lands and recreation sites within the Glenwood Block, all Yakama Nation forest resource lands and along the Pacific Crest Trail through the Mount Adams Wilderness. The Mount Adams Wilderness in its entirety is closed, as are all trails on the south and east sides of Mount Adams between Forest Road 23 at Williams Mine and the forest’s eastern boundary.
