Kalama Fire continues to grow, prompting evacuation orders

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation notices for communities near the Kalama Fire, located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Level 3 evacuation orders — meaning residents should leave immediately — have been issued for the area spanning from the border of Cowlitz and Lewis counties south to 7550 Road and from the border of Skamania and Cowlitz counties west 5 miles into Cowlitz County.

Level 2 evacuation orders — meaning residents should be ready to leave at any moment — are in place for the area from 7550 Road to south of Merrill Lake and from the border of Skamania and Cowlitz counties west 5 miles into Cowlitz County.

Level 1 evacuation orders — meaning residents should start getting prepared to leave — are in place from the area south of Merrill Lake south to State Route 503, including the cities of Cougar and Yale, and from the border of Skamania and Cowlitz counties along SR-503 5 miles into Cowlitz County.

According to the forest service, the Kalama Fire is estimated to be about 107 acres in size as of 9 a.m. Saturday. The fire was discovered Aug. 31.

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