Fire near Yacolt contained at 13 acres, human caused

Crews controlled a 13-acre forest fire Saturday in north Clark County, the state Department of Natural Resources says it was human-caused.

Firefighters finished digging a fire line around the blaze, named the Big Creek Fire, overnight Friday, said DNR spokesman Nick Cronquist. Saturday’s goal was to make sure the fire east of Yacolt didn’t jump the trench, Cronquist said.

About 115 people worked Saturday to push the fire back, including local fire departments and crews from New Mexico and Larch Corrections Center. Although there were supposed to be east winds in the area, which bring in drier, warmer air, “They never really materialized to push the fire,” Cronquist said.

“When we get east winds it’s more of a drying trend and that’s when we get really worried,” he said. “It’s so early in the fire season right now.”

The Big Creek Fire started Friday afternoon near the East Fork of the Lewis River, near the mouth of Dole Valley. It burned on forest reproduction land owned by Weyerhaeuser Co., meaning timber was logged there years ago and newly planted trees were growing in the area.

Smoke and flames could be seen Friday evening from Moulton Falls Winery, north of Moulton Falls Park. No businesses or homes were evacuated.