InciWeb - Wildland Fire and Incident Information System

Approximate Location

45.373 latitude, -121.628 longitude

Summary

The Gnarl Ridge Fire was started by lightning on Thursday night, August 7, 2008 on the north flank of Mt. Hood. It was contained by late August at 516 acres. On September 16, unusually hot and dry conditions coupled with a persistent thermal belt during the night caused the fire to make a major run shortly after midnight. The Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team assumed management of the fire on September 18. Fire lines were established around the fire, much of the heat was extinguished, some of the hazardous trees were felled, and drainage was established along roads and fire lines. Historic Cloud Cap Inn and the structures at Tilly Jane were saved from the fire. On October 2, a Type 3 Incident Management Team, headed by Incident Commander Leo Segovia, assumed command of the Gnarl Ridge Fire. Fire personnel continued to extinguish remaining hot spots, did extensive work to reduce the erosion potential of the areas impacted by the fire and suppression efforts, and retrieved equipment from the fire area. Heavy rain arrived on the fire on Friday, October 3. The rain reduced the potential for the fire to spread and made working on the fire hazardous due to slick roads and more falling trees. Staffing on the fire has been reduced, with most fire personnel released to their normal duty stations by Monday, October 6. The Incident Command Post at the Hood River County Fairgrounds in Odell, Oregon will close on October 6. Command of the fire will be turned over to the Hood River Ranger District at 6:00 PM on Monday, October 6.