Dry Gulch Fire Update

 

Quick Facts Incident Summary Approximate Size:   46,352 acres Fire Containment: 20% Incident Commander: Jason Loomis   Resources on the fires: Crews: 15 Helicopters: 1 Engines: 46 Dozers: 4 Water tenders: 14 Total Personnel: 434       Jurisdiction: Umatilla National Forest, Spokane District Bureau of Land Management, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Asotin County Fire District   Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dry-Gulch- Fire-112503867766079 Washington Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Dry Gulch Fire

July 11, 2021

Fire Information 509-780-6238

E-mail: 2021.drygulch@firenet.gov

 

For Immediate Release

Incident Commander: Jason Loomis, Northwest Team 7

 

Clarkston, Wa. –The Dry Gulch fire gained 8,132 acres yesterday and overnight. All significant growth has been to the west and south as the fire moves into increasingly rugged terrain and heavy fuels. An expansion to the south in the Harlow Ridge area required additional residential evacuations on the evening of July 10.

Start Date: July 7, 2021      Cause: Lightning

Status: The fire has not moved significantly to the north and east in the past 48 hours. With its continued spread to the south and west, firefighters are establishing protection measures for threatened structures. These measures can include installing sprinkler systems and removing adjacent fuels. Today firefighters may conduct strategic firing operations along the western and southern flanks of the fire if weather and burning conditions are appropriate.

 

Weather: Current and forecasted weather remains unfavorable and fire spread is expected, with historically dry and hot conditions, and an unstable atmosphere favoring fire growth and spotting. Overnight, humidity levels are remaining extremely low allowing the fire to spread actively. These conditions have created an unprecedented potential for extreme fire spread and intensity and a 24-hour burning

period. Winds today will be westerly and light. In forested areas, fire may move rapidly through the crowns of trees in runs of up to one-quarter mile. Poor visibility may impede air operations today.

 

Closures and Evacuations: Area closure and fire perimeter maps are posted on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615. The Red Cross shelter in Clarkston has moved to Echo Hills Church 3215 Echo Hills Dr. in Lewiston, ID. The shelter telephone number will remain 509-508-1299.

 

Prevention Message: This fire and many others burning in the region are extremely persistent on the land, requiring a marathon effort from firefighters. The same persistent effort is required from the public to assure their personal safety and to prevent any new ignitions. Firefighters need your help getting us all through this marathon fire season safely.