Fire danger remains high in Clark County today

Clark County is in for a hot, smoky, windy Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, and that’s only if things go as well as possible.

The county, along with the rest of the region, remains under a Red Flag Warning for extreme fire danger all day and through the evening. People are asked to curtail from burning or other activities that could start a fire, such as mowing dry fields or parking vehicles in tall grass. Any fires that start could be difficult to control.

The forecast high for Vancouver today is 93 degrees, with winds gusting to 25 mph. It will be smoky, too, from wildfires burning around the Pacific Northwest.

Several fires are burning in the Willamette Valley, leading to evacuations and opening of temporary shelters there.

In Southwest Washington, the Goat Peak has burned 1,200 acres two miles northeast of Packwood. Highway 12 across White Pass and several forest and local roads are closed. The fire was growing as of Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Unlike Oregon, where power has been shut off in areas of greatest fire danger, Clark Public Utilities is continuing to serve all customers.

Pacificorp announced its North Fork Lewis River recreational facilities, including Swift Forest Camp and the Yale day use area, are closed.

The outlook improves for Sunday, according to the weather service.