The Nakia Creek Fire, burning near Larch Mountain, did not grow overnight and remained at 156 acres with 10 percent containment, as of Thursday morning.
Control lines on the south and southwest edges of the fire held, but officials are not yet lifting the evacuation warnings issued earlier this week, due to the continuing unseasonably hot and dry weather. Crews also made good progress Wednesday establishing control lines on the other sides of the fire, but there’s still more work to be done, according to a Thursday update from Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.
Although deer hunting season begins Saturday, section GMU-Washougal-568 will remain closed where it overlays with the fire, the CRESA update states.
Officials remind people to slow down on roads near the fire as the sun sets earlier and fire crews move around the area after dark.
The fire is burning in slash and previously harvested land, in addition to young timber growth and a few pockets of old timber growth, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Crews have confirmed the fire, which was reported at about 4 p.m. Sunday, is human-caused, but officials are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information about the cause is asked to contact the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office at 564-397-3320.
The Southwest Clean Air Agency issued an air pollution advisory due to wildfire smoke. Air quality in Clark County was in the “moderate” category Thursday.
Smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, so the clean air agency encourages sensitive groups to be cautious.
When air is smoky, even healthy people can have symptoms, according to Clark County Public Health. Symptoms can range from minor irritation to life-threatening complications, including sore throat, headache, burning eyes, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain.
Find the latest air quality information on the Washington State Department of Ecology’s website.
For maps of the evacuation zones and road and trail closures, visit CRESA’s fire webpage.
