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Nakia Creek Fire expands, thousands of Camas-Washougal residents now in evacuation zones

Wildfire burning near Larch Mountain increased from 156 acres to 2,000 acres on Sunday

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The most recent evacuation map, released at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, shows nearly all of Camas-Washougal residents are now in Level 1 "Be Ready" (green) or Level 2 "Be Set" (yellow) zones, with more than 2,300 households in the Level 3 "Go Now" zone (red). (Contributed image courtesy of the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency)

Fire officials say the Nakia Creek wildfire burning in the Larch Mountain area northeast of Camas-Washougal exploded on Sunday leaping from around 156 acres on Sunday morning to nearly 2,000 acres as of 8:30 p.m. Sunday evening. 

Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) said Sunday night that evacuation warnings also increased, pushing 28,765 homes in the Camas-Washougal area into the Level 1 “Be Ready” zone, 5,017 homes into the Level 2 “Be Set” zone and at 2,903 homes into the most extreme, Level 3 “Go Now” zone. 

CRESA reported on its Facebook site Sunday evening that it has been working with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Public Works and the Clark County Search and Rescue to close roads in the area and notify residents in the evacuation zones. 

The emergency services agency also said it has reports of “additional fires near Chelatchie Prairie and Sunset Campground in Clark County” as well as “several” other fires in Skamania County. 

“CRESA sent out multiple notification alerts today, including a wireless emergency alert,” CRESA reported, adding that residents in the impacted areas should be sure they are viewing the most current maps and getting updates to the most accurate notification areas — both of which can be found online at cresa911.org/2022/10/11/nakia-creek-fire-updates/.

Fire officials said Sunday evening that the Nakia Creek Fire is now 5% contained, and said they would have more accurate information on the size of the fire Monday morning. 

“Please note this is a very rough estimate as there is so much smoke in the air, it is difficult to get a good visual on the fire,” CRESA noted in its Sunday evening update. “We believe we will have better numbers by morning.” 

Clark County signed an emergency declaration Sunday due to the fires. 

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter in Camas at the Camas Church of the Nazarene, at 2204 N.E. Birch StCamas. 

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has opened its Ilani parking lot for vehicles. Residents evacuating who need to park in those lots should park in lots 10 or 11 and place a “fire evacuee” sign in their window. The sites provide parking only. Gray water will need to be dumped at the nearby Gee Creek Rest Area, according to CRESA. 

People seeking assistance may call the CRESA call center from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 360-992-9229. 

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