Soap Lake fire destroys roughly 5,000 acres

Cause of blaze unknown

SOAP LAKE - A wildland fire burning roughly 5,000 acres of cheat grass and sagebrush near Willow Creek on Sunday was considered 75 percent contained Monday afternoon.

The fire initially threatened 10 homes near Soap Lake, initial reports state.

One home was moderately damaged early in the fire before equipment could reach it, said Gary Garnant, a public information officer for Grant County Emergency Management. He said the fire's cause wasn't known and it's believed to have started in rough wildland.

The family living at the home was evacuated and no other evacuations were reported, said Sam Lorenz with emergency management.

Two vehicles and outbuildings such as small sheds were destroyed near the home.

Forty firefighters from both sides of the state were left patrolling the scene Monday, protecting homes and reinforcing the fire's perimeter, according to information provided by Brian Schaeffer, a public information officer under state mobilization.

The fire was first reported at 9:21 a.m. Sunday and spread through a narrow strip of land marked by rural homes outside of Soap Lake to the north and rugged terrain to the south, Garnant said.

Initially, 70 firefighters were called to the scene from Grant County Fire Districts No. 5, 7, 13, Ephrata and Moses Lake.

The state Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray also sent firefighters from outside the area to help and were expected to return home Monday.

The state Department of Natural Resources brought two helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft to apply water and retardant, Garnant said.

Crews were out all night Sunday and a small number were released in the evening to get some rest, he said.

A second shift of firefighters stayed on scene to help with containment and work on hot spots, he said.

Garnant warned area visitors to be aware of the high fire conditions made hazardous by the high temperatures, low humidity and winds.

No injuries were reported and all roads were open, he said.

Elsewhere in the state, a crew from the Moses Lake Fire Department was sent to the Spokane Valley to fight wildfires on Thursday, said Moses Lake Fire Chief Tom Taylor. The Moses Lake crew was still in Spokane Valley Monday.

A Moses Lake fire fighter and strike team leader helped with the Badger Mountain fire and moved on to the Willow Creek fire, Taylor said.