Cowlitz Complex fires inch closer to containment

GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST — The 30-fire Cowlitz Complex in the southwest Washington Cascades National Forest between Mount Rainier and the Columbia River is now 40% contained at 715 acres and 296 personnel, according to the U.S. Fire Service.

Although crews continue to work on constructing containment lines, managing the fire is shifting to “fire suppression repair,” the USFS wrote in an update Thursday. After firefighters complete the suppression efforts, they restore the land to a more natural condition. Fire suppression repair is a series of post-fire actions taken to repair impacts to the land and minimize the potential for soil erosion and other issues that might arise from these activities. It includes impacts caused by hand lines, dozer lines, and helispots that were used to support the crews.

Fire danger remains high over most of central and eastern Washington, according to the DNR, except in parts of Chelan and Okanogan counties, where the danger was rated as extreme. Air quality was good throughout the Columbia Basin.

These fires were also burning Wednesday, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center:

Delabarre: This fire in Olympic National Park had grown to 3,658 acres Thursday and was still uncontained. Estimated costs were $5 million. The fire was discovered Sept. 1.

Low Divide: This fire in the Olympic National Forest was discovered Sept. 1 and remained at 312 acres Thursday. It was uncontained and costs were estimated at $125,000. The cause was determined to be natural. The complex was still 34% contained. The fires originated Aug. 25.

Diamond Mountain: This fire about 25 miles south of Port Angeles was discovered Sept. 1 and remained at 30 acres Thursday. The cause was determined to be natural. It was uncontained and costs were estimated at $10,000.

Martin Lake: This fire in the Olympic National Forest was discovered Sept. 1 and was still at 108 acres Thursday. It was uncontained and costs were estimated at $50,000.

Eagle Point: Discovered Aug. 29 about 12 miles south of Port Angeles, this fire was still at 128 acres Thursday. It was still uncontained and costs were estimated at $100,000.

Blue Lake: This blaze, discovered July 29 about 53 miles west of Omak, was still 80% contained Thursday at 1,074 acres. Costs were estimated at $5.75 million.

Eagle Bluff: This fire, southwest of Oroville near the Canadian border, has burned 16,428 acres. The fire has cost about $9.9 million and was fully contained Thursday. The cause is unknown.

Sourdough: Burning in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area in the north Cascades since July 29, it was still 25% contained Thursday at 6,369 acres. Costs are estimated at $24 million.

Oregon Road: This fire discovered Aug. 18 about 31 miles north of Spokane was still 99% contained at 10,817 acres Thursday. Costs are estimated at $14.2 million.

Dome Peak: This fire, located northeast of Mt. Baker National Forest, was still uncontained as of Thursday and had burned 1,477 acres. The fire was reported July 29. Costs were estimated at $100,000.

Lake Whatcom: Discovered Aug. 28 about 9 miles southeast of Bellingham, this fire was 100% contained and remained at 40 acres Thursday. Costs were estimated at $850,000.

Kindy Creek: Discovered Aug. 18 in the Cascades above Lake Chelan about 75 miles northwest of Wenatchee, this blaze remained at 210 acres Thursday. It was uncontained and costs were estimated at $90,000.

Airplane Lake: This blaze about 53 miles northwest of Wenatchee burned 6,677 acres Thursday and costs are estimated at $500,000. It is reported as uncontained and no cause has been identified. It was discovered July 7.

Chocolate Creek: This blaze about 58 miles northwest of Wenatchee was still uncontained Thursday, and had grown to 38 acres. Costs were estimated at $90,000.

Gray: Discovered Aug. 18 about 17 miles west of Spokane, it was still 99% contained at 10,085 acres Thursday. The fire was determined to be caused by human activity and costs were estimated at $10.4 million.

Consalus: Around 475 acres burned near the Idaho border due east of the Little Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. The fire has cost about $12 million and was 100% contained Thursday. Authorities report that the cause of the fire is natural.

Several other fires are reported throughout the state but have burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. The majority are less than 1 acre.

Joel Martin may be reached by email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.