Fire burns 1,738 acres across two counties
Lynne Lynch/Columbia Basin HeraldThe ground is blackened where a fire burned more than 1,700 acres in Douglas and Grant counties Tuesday and Wednesday. Thousands of people were evacuated.
COLUMBIA BASIN - Multiple fire agencies responded to a wildland fire on Stuhlmiller Road, west of Quincy near the county line between Douglas and Grant counties Tuesday night.
When Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and Grant County Fire District No. 3 responded, the wind-driven fire was already out of control, Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney said.
The fire burned 1,738 acres.
Beverly McDonald lives on Stuhlmiller Road and said the fire started in wheat fields and was driven toward her house by the wind.
"It got out of hand pretty quickly, probably 20-30 minutes it was down this way," she said. "We had to abandon everything and jump in the car and get out … fortunately, for some reason, miraculously, the fire did not burn any structures in this area. Why it didn't, I don't know."
Approximately 6,000 people were evacuated from the fire zone, Apple Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross Executive Director Marriah Thornock said. Evacuees included Douglas and Grant County residents and drivers were halted with state Route 28 being closed.
No homes were lost to the fire, Sevigney said. Residents returned to their homes Wednesday.
Debi Hill lives on Rose Road with two acres of cherries. She evacuated with her dogs, but her home was left undamaged by the fire.
"It was probably 100, 150 feet (away) in any direction. It didn't get real close to our house. We've got green grass around and plenty of space," Hill said. "The only real damage we've got is part of our cherries that we have and they're more scorched than actually burned."
The fire burned on both sides of Rose Road.
According to Grant County Emergency Management, one home in Trinidad sustained minor exterior damage from the fire. A horse barn was damaged and a vacant storage shed was destroyed in Douglas County.
The fire came within a half mile of White Heron Cellars.
"No damage anywhere, actually," owner Cameron Fries said.
Sevigney said no people were injured and it did not appear any animals were hurt. The burned acreage consisted of sagebrush and farmland including wheat fields.
The fire continues to burn but is under control, he said. Firefighters were expected to be able to begin cleaning the scene by 6 p.m. Wednesday.
During the fire, a Washington State Department of Natural Resources helicopter was used to transport firefighter personnel above the fire to determine if water drops were needed. They weren't and the fire was fought from the ground, Sevigney said.
Approximately 150 firefighters responded to the fire, 30 fire engines were at the scene and nine water tenders used.
Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said four fire districts from Douglas County, Wenatchee Fire Department, Cashmere Fire Department, Ephrata Fire Department, seven fire districts from Chelan County and four fire districts in Grant County responded to the fire. The sheriff's office and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office assisted with evacuating some residents.
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