No threat is currently posed to the public by the Cowlitz Complex Fires, a collective name for 30 blazes throughout the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that were sparked by a lightning storm on Aug. 25.
Currently, the fires, which are at a collective 695 acres, are 34% contained. Just three of the 30 fires remain in “active” status, while more than half are out or controlled.
According to a Monday morning update from the incident management team, there was slight growth in the 36.79-acre Grassy Mountain Fire over the weekend, the blaze nearest to Randle. It is among the most difficult to access due to the steep terrain, according to previous reports from the team, but still is not a threat to the nearby community.
The Grassy Mountain Fire’s thick duff layer poses another challenge. Most of the Cowlitz Complex Fires are fed by ground fuels rather than trees or taller vegetation.