Growing army of firefighters battles Mason Co. wildfire
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SHELTON, Wash. - A growing army of firefighters took advantage of cool overnight temperatures to make progress in their battle against a wildfire that is threatening homes, buildings and high-voltage transmission lines near Rainbow Lake in Mason County.
But with continuing bone-dry conditions, no one is declaring victory over the blaze yet. The wildfire, which sprang up Thursday afternoon, grew to more than 200 acres during the day Friday.
The state Department of Natural Resources said critical weather conditions like these are "not seen in a lifetime."
Red flag warnings remained in effect for much of Western Washington, and the National Weather Service said vegetation is exceptionally parched due to a prolonged dry spell that has persisted since July 23.
"Fuels continue to be unseasonably dry - approaching or exceeding record dryness levels for this time of year," the Weather Service said in a special fire weather statement.
Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Sarah Foster says the Mason County fire stabilized at about 150 acres by Friday morning. But the blaze began growing again Friday as temperatures increased and the relative humidity in the area dropped from 96 percent at 8 a.m. to 16 percent at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the army of firefighters assigned to the blaze doubled in size from 100 to about 200 as of Friday morning. The fire is considered to be about 30 percent contained.
Residents of about a dozen homes who evacuated have been allowed to return, but many were warned to be ready to leave again at a moment's notice.
"I didn't even know what to grab, honestly, other than my brother and my dogs and some paperwork," says Jennifer Johns of Rainbow Lake, who was one of those evacuated Thursday evening.
"We're ready to fight it with a hose if we have to," added Charlie Aldridge, who lives in the area.
Meanwhile, crews continue to keep a watchful eye on the fire, which is also threatening a high-voltage transmission line operated by the Bonneville Power Administration.
Officials said the emphasis on Friday will be to protect homes and power lines if the fire starts acting up again.
But with continuing bone-dry conditions, no one is declaring victory over the blaze yet. The wildfire, which sprang up Thursday afternoon, grew to more than 200 acres during the day Friday.
The state Department of Natural Resources said critical weather conditions like these are "not seen in a lifetime."
Red flag warnings remained in effect for much of Western Washington, and the National Weather Service said vegetation is exceptionally parched due to a prolonged dry spell that has persisted since July 23.
"Fuels continue to be unseasonably dry - approaching or exceeding record dryness levels for this time of year," the Weather Service said in a special fire weather statement.
Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Sarah Foster says the Mason County fire stabilized at about 150 acres by Friday morning. But the blaze began growing again Friday as temperatures increased and the relative humidity in the area dropped from 96 percent at 8 a.m. to 16 percent at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the army of firefighters assigned to the blaze doubled in size from 100 to about 200 as of Friday morning. The fire is considered to be about 30 percent contained.
Residents of about a dozen homes who evacuated have been allowed to return, but many were warned to be ready to leave again at a moment's notice.
"I didn't even know what to grab, honestly, other than my brother and my dogs and some paperwork," says Jennifer Johns of Rainbow Lake, who was one of those evacuated Thursday evening.
"We're ready to fight it with a hose if we have to," added Charlie Aldridge, who lives in the area.
Meanwhile, crews continue to keep a watchful eye on the fire, which is also threatening a high-voltage transmission line operated by the Bonneville Power Administration.
Officials said the emphasis on Friday will be to protect homes and power lines if the fire starts acting up again.
there is a meeting scheduled for tonight (satuday) at 7pm in the pud building on johns prairie. he fire has consumed 200 plus acres and is currently 40 percent contained. They are now saying that the fire was human caused and are unsure at this point if it was intentionally set and if it was related to the one that started in the same location last week. It has jumped the railroad tracks twice now and has shifted back to its starting point. (as of lastnight)
 @NicoleAnn Thanks Nicole.... good info. I am not pleased by the mayor of Shelton's lack of response.... I also am a bit surprised on the lack of media info.... The media has provided several excuses as to why info is slow getting out... whatever. Has the mayor responded in anyway that you know of?
no word yet as to whether any Mason County official has said a word about this. I would suppose that the city mayor should say at least something to all of us about it since how we are ALL( as a whole county) Â responsible for electing him into office. I think that it would be nice to not have to go on a scavenger hunt to find the info in the fire and where the issue stands. As I watch out my window the smoke is increasingly worse and the smell of smoke is worse than previously this morning. I live across the bay from where it is
@Funky-Munky Well since the Fire is about 15 miles out side of the city limits of Shelton what does the mayor need to say or do?
I live in the shorcrest area and waking up this morning it is smokier than it has ever been since this fire has started. Yesterday it was clear and the air quality was so much better and this morning it is 10 times worse. I can smell the smike inside my home and across the bay where the fire is, is completly hazy and smoke filled. My husband was at bayshore and said you could not see in front of you as it was really badly covered with smoke.
Why is there NO UPDATE????
 @Cat E Komo wakes up a bit late...... I dunno....
This story has not been updated since this morning, even though it says it was updated at 3:47 this afternoon. Â This is a MUCH better update on the KMAS website. Here is link:
http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/40831-power-line-no-2-fire-status-update-3pm-oct-5
The Fire Has Burned It was BACK up the Power Line Roads and Is Agin Near Rainbow Lake
Better Photos       Link https://plus.google.com/photos/104230070354145700686/albums/5795931692143069633/5795931701438151538
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https://plus.google.com/104230070354145700686/posts And
http://youtu.be/hdNgDZqDRBg
I think we should be contacting city officials for real info, i.e., perimeter info and updates. The Shelton Mayor should be informing citizens about what the heck is going on. Surely they have a PR person to keep us informed...
@CFarr Boy your not from around here are you? The city is limits are around 15 miles from the fire. The county were this is burning is rural.
there is an information meeting saturday night in the pud building on johns prairie. I am not sure what time it is, but there is one scheduled.
 @CFarr DNR has control of the fire since last night. They are not telling MACECOM (911 Center) anything. Therefor City  of Shelton (which isn't involved in County Fires anyway) doesn't have any information to hand out.
Heck of a way to run things! Lol!  I guess we're all too stupid to be told anything until someone knocks on the door and says, "you're on fire, get out."
KOMO: this would be a great story to update... At least the percentage of containment please!
 @Funky-Munky DNR told Kiro & King 30% at about 15:00 today.
Hey KOMO any updates on this?
@DDG Just an FYI-KMAS website and the KMAS facebook page are doing a really good job of updating.Â
 @DDG i agree any update
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We just came back from town and the whole city of Shelton is filled with smoke! My eyes burned, my thoat and nose burned, and it was almost to difficult to see where you were going. All our clothes and hair smell like smoke now!
 @Rachael Jean Wilbur I was wondering about that.... I am on the coast by there.... Maybe you should consider pampering yourself and grabbing a room somewhere away for a bit!
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@Wickedwitch Oh I think you never been on the ground of a wild fire were it can run at a speed fast as the wind! and can behave erratic and kill even the most highly trained Smoke Jumpers. maybe that is why people with out training left.
@Wickedwitch im pretty sure we dont want to burn with our things if our house burns to the ground... things are irreplaceable ourselves and children are not!
@Wickedwitch im pretty sure we dont want to burn with our things if our house burns to the ground... things are irreplaceable ourselves and children are not!
 @Wickedwitch You really think you and your garden hose have a chance against a wildfire???
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 @Wickedwitch suffice to say.... you have a standing record of some of the most foolish comments on these news forums... I mean... I guess at least you're consistent.
some people value their lives more than a dang forest fire!!!
Have you looked at the pictures of this fire? I am pretty sure an average homeowner does not have the tools and capability to fight flames that are 30 feet tall and fast moving. So judgmental.
They're not cowards. If you think so you're a fool and have never been around a forest fire. Fire can move faster than you can drive a car. You may never be able to get to safety. It's better for the emergency services to fight the fire and gain control of it, than to have to save a bunch of foolish people trying to save their homes with garden hoses.
@Wickedwitch-Oh, don't know. Maybe they're just being silly and think their itty bitty garden hose is no match for a fire that can burn a tree in 10 seconds. Or perhaps they foolishly think that it's better to leave the fire fighting to those who are trained and know whay they are doing. Here's a crazy one-they actually think the warnings to evacuate are real-can you imagine that?  Or, if they are really off their rocker they think life is more important than property and by staying they not only put themselves in danger but any emergency personel that might try and save them. Yep, just a bunch of cowards.
the winds here on mason lake just north of the fires have really picked up, and getting gusty
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If you want to see real time prevailing winds, check here:Â http://hint.fm/wind/
The winds in Shorecrest are picking up
 @Ryk E Lee That's cool!
 @Jeff Stephens The wind has been West by Southwest for the last 24 hours at an average of 3.1 MPH across the fire area.
The last I had heard Johns Prairie was shut down again.
 @NicoleAnn E. Johns Prairie Rd was closed near MCRA due to earlier traffic accident. Road has been cleared is and open to traffic. From WSP  - KMAS just Reported this.Â
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@KAM I just heard it has now grown to 200 acres
Anyone know where the perimeters of the fire are? How far north has it gone?
 @CFarr i was just up on johns prairie around 09:50 this morning on my way back from the college. it looks like it burned along the perimeter of the power lines and surround timber from Rainbow lake area all the way to the back side of the new PUD building. Look across from the batting cages and you can see the flames.
Fire has to be one of the scariest & most traumatic things that could possibly happen to a person. I'm hoping the brave firefighters get this under control soon, with no injuries & no major damage.
stay safe firefighters
 @TruthinAdverts The firefighters are in my thoughts -very brave to fight something like this that can get away from you in a second (from a forestry major)
Mason County has had three months of dry weather - could this be climate change?
 @William McPherson Don't confuse weather with climate change.
Local crews as well as KMAS Radio are reporting that the fire is now 200 acres.