Wildfire controlled in Saddle Mountains

Fire crews battle blaze that burned 4,000 acres near Mattawa

SADDLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — Fire crews have contained a fire here that burned nearly 5,000 acres here in the last few days.

According to Ron Crouse with the Hanford Reach National Monument, the fire was contained with a line around it at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, and crews expect it to have the blaze controlled by the same time tonight.

The fire burned approximately 4,918 acres primarily on the their Hanford Reach National Monument's Saddle Mountain Refuge Unit, with some fire movement onto private land. Crouse said between 70 and 90 firefighters combated the blaze at its height.

Firefighters with Grant County Fire District No. 5 were among fire crews responding to the blaze. Firefighters performed a 12-hour shift at the fire. Eight trucks and three command vehicles were at the site, with a total of 17 firefighters.

The fire was first reported by a refuge youth crew Tuesday afternoon, and officials are not yet saying what caused the fire.

"It's under investigation," Crouse said, "and it has not been released on a potential cause."

Crouse said that once the fire is contained, officials will do what they can for restoration, and he said they have hopes there will be areas inside the fire that were spared. Among the area burned was an old growth area of sagebrush.

"As soon as this area eases up," he said, "we're already doing what we can for restoration."