POMEROY–The Pomeroy Ranger District announced closure of all United States Forest Service land, roads and trails in the Umatilla National Forest, as well as several Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife units, including W.T. Wooten, 4-0 Ranch, Grouse Flats, Asotin Creek, and Weatherly units, at a community meeting on July 13.

All persons without property in the Forest are urged to stay out of the firefighters' way. The Cloverland cabins have been placed on a level-three evacuation, Stentz and Rose Springs have been reduced to a level-1 evacuation, and the region has been placed on a Preparedness Level 5.

-Submitted photo

The red retardant line visible on the ridge top helped to slow growth of the Lick Creek Fire to the north, this submitted photo shows, while smoke billows from firelines to the south. To receive current smoke conditions, visit the Washington Smoke Blog at: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

Nathan Goodrich, planning chief for the National Incident Management Team Three, gave an update on the position and conditions of the Lick Creek Fire. The north side of the fire along Iron Springs Road has been contained, and the Mountain Road toward Clearwater Lookout Tower is under control, as is the east face along the south fork of Asotin Creek. Heavy brush and timber is hindering control of the south side from Clearwater Lookout around Hard-to-get-to and Devil's Tailbone, to Harlow Ridge. Heavy equipment is being used to create a line to hold the fire. Several locals are contributing their machines, and several logging crews are involved as well.

National Incident Management has sent a Type One team to the fire. Team Three is made up of inter-agency members combining many skills, with a specialty in high complexity incidents. Umatilla National Forest Force Supervisor Eric Watrud described them as "the best of the best". The Garfield County Fire District and Sheriff Department are cooperating with the Forest Service and Incident Management Team.