Rattlesnake Fire Daily Update - Aug. 30, 2020

Fire Information Line: 458-207-0058

Email: 2020.meacham@firenet.gov

Incident Commander: Mike Almas, Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7069/

Forest Users - Please drive slowly on the Tucannon Road (FS Road 47), from all access points due to heavy fire and recreational traffic. Yield to fire vehicles where possible and avoid distracted driving.

The Rattlesnake Fire is burning in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness on the Pomeroy Ranger District in Washington. It is located approximately twenty miles south of Pomeroy and thirteen miles southeast of Dayton. The fire remains at approximately 485 acres and has been burning in the same footprint for several days. It is burning in a fifteen-year old fire scar which left a mosaic of vegetation.

The anticipated cold front brought westerly winds with gusts as high as 25 to 35 mph on the fire area on Saturday. Fire activity increased but did not move across containment lines. Heat remains on the north end near Panjab Campground, and on the southern edge of the fire. Where there is enough heat, the fire is expected to continue to creep and smolder in islands of green brush, grass and timber within the existing perimeter.

Firefighters are improving containment lines along the northern perimeter, using hoses to extinguish heat sources in the steep terrain. Crews continue to mop-up and patrol along the east and west flanks of the fire area. Masticators are chopping and spreading brush along the Tucannon Road to strengthen the contingency line. Crews are cooling hot spots and improving the contingency line from the Panjab to Rattlesnake trails. Seven crews remain on the fire and three helicopters are available to assist.

Resources Threatened: Private lands, wilderness, recreation and a threatened and endangered fish species are being protected.

Evacuations and Closures: The Tucannon Road is closed at the Tucannon Campground with no access into Panjab or Lady Bug Campgrounds. Panjab Trail 3127 and Rattlesnake Trail 3129 are closed. Forest Road 4620, known as Patrick Grade, is also temporarily closed at the Forest boundary due to fire traffic. In addition to these road and trail closures there is an area closure south of the Panjab and Tucannon Creek junction. Follow posts on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7069/ for the closure order details and the latest updates. Please respect the posted closures.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Sunny with temperatures in the 60’s. It will remain dry and breezy. Fuels continue to dry and the grass and shrubs are curing as autumn approaches.