Tunnel Five Fire | |
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Date(s) | July 2, 2023 – July 11, 2023 |
Location | Skamania County, Washington, United States |
Coordinates | 45°43′21″N 121°34′43″W / 45.722482°N 121.578618°W |
Statistics | |
Burned area | 529 acres (214 ha)[1] |
Ignition | |
Cause | under investigation |
Map | |
The Tunnel Five Fire or Tunnel 5 Fire was a wildfire in Skamania County, Washington in the Columbia River Gorge, near the border with Oregon. Ignited in the morning of July 2, 2023,[2] the cause of the fire is still under investigation. By July 10, the fire was 80% contained,[3] and by the following day it reached 100% containment.[4]
The fire began in the unincorporated community of Underwood, Washington, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of White Salmon, Washington during a period of hot, dry conditions that was forecasted to last through the July 4 holiday.[5] As of July 7, 2023[update], it had burned 546 acres (221 ha) and was 20% containment, and was moving westward.[6][7][5]
10 homes were estimated to have been burned,[8] with 250 nearby homes threatened.[7] Fourth of July celebrations were cancelled in White Salmon and nearby towns of Hood River, Oregon, and local bans on personal fireworks were put into place,[9][8] in addition to a red flag warning. Level 3 evacuation warnings impacted about 1,000 Skamania county residents.[10]
An emergency shelter for evacuees was opened at the Skamania County Fairgrounds. Other areas around the Columbia River Gorge were under warnings to prepare for potential evacuations.[5] As of July 6, 2023[update], 461 emergency workers had been deployed to fight the fire using engines and multiple aircraft.[11]
The fire caused Washington State Route 14 to be closed in both directions from Milepost 56 to Milepost 65 beginning on July 4.[7] It reopened to traffic on July 12 after the fire had reached 80 percent containment.[12]
Acres were reduced due to accurate mapping in the eastern portion in Div-G
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