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The fire is located on Washington State Department of Natural Resources and private timber company lands in southern Klickitat County. State Route 141 remains open with a pilot car escort. The pilot car is scheduled to be discontinued at 2 p.m. today. Reduced speeds and extra caution while traveling through the fire area are still recommended. The combination of heavier weekend traffic and firefighting activity call for increased vigilance. Yesterday continued a predictable, repetitive pattern—mop up and more mop up. Once a fire’s growth is stopped, the objective is to establish a band of “cold black” within the fire’s perimeter. “Cold black” is firefighter shorthand for a combination of completely consumed fuel (black) and no flame or heat in the remaining fuels (cold). This hard, dirty, tedious work is essential to reasonably reducing the potential for the fire to escape and resume growing. It is especially important early in the fire season with the expectation of hot, dry conditions intensifying fire danger. Today’s weather forecast calls for high temperatures and low relative humidity, conditions similar to last weekend when the fire grew rapidly. Building on the accomplishments from earlier in the week, firefighters are striving to complete the remaining mop up this weekend. An outdoor burn ban remains in effect for Klickitat County from July 1 through September 30, 2017. With hot, dry summer weather likely to occur over the next two months, it is essential to exercise caution when using power equipment, welders and all potential sources of ignition. Fire at a Glance Size: 337 acres Containment: 50% Location: Five miles north of Husum, Washington Cause: Under Investigation Personnel: 670 Resources: 27 Crews 26 Engines 2 Dozers 8 Water tenders 2 Skidders Aircraft: 1 Type 1 heavy helicopter Evacuations: A Level 1 evacuation notice is in effect for homeowners north of Meyers Road and South of Pine Flats Road. Fire Information: (509) 493-2309 Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5346/ Northwest Incident Management Team 6 Shawn Sheldon, Incident Commander Dry Creek Fire Update July 14, 2017