Grant, Adams counties included in Inslee's emergency proclamation

by Richard Byrd & Staff Writer
| August 25, 2016 6:00 AM

OLYMPIA — Grant and Adams counties are among the 20 counties included in Gov. Jay Inslee’s state of emergency declaration in response to several wildfires that are currently burning in eastern Washington.

Inslee’s proclamation includes Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Yakima, Walla Walla and Whitman counties.

Fire crews are currently combating a number of fires in the eastern part of the state, including six large fires that were sparked over the weekend and have already destroyed several structures and are still threatening homes, businesses, public infrastructure and natural resources.

“These fires threaten people, property and the natural resources of eastern Washington,” Inslee said. “This proclamation frees up state resources so we can provide the assistance that these communities might need. This is a time for all Washingtonians to come together.”

Although no large fires are burning in Grant and Adams counties, the two regions have been hit hard by the devastating effects of wildfires over the summer and have seen first hand the tremendous amount of resources needed to contain a raging wildfire. Inslee’s emergency declaration took into account the wildfires that are currently burning, as well as the extreme fire conditions that have firefighters on constant edge throughout eastern Washington.

Inslee noted that hot and windy weather are in the forecast for the next week and the current lack of firefighting resources west of the Cascades, as well as in the western United States, could have an effect on battling current and future fires. The proclamation does the following: directs state agencies to assist local governments in responding to and recovering from fires, calls for state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff to coordinate state firefighting efforts and allows local jurisdictions to use the Washington National Guard if they are in need of more resources.

The EOC was activated to a Level 1 status Tuesday morning. In addition, the Department of Natural Resources has banned outdoor fires on state-protected lands and local and federal agencies have put in place burn bans on lands under their control.