Wildland fire burns over 600 acres near Gorge Amphitheatre
Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald The Sunland Fire burns near the Gorge Amphitheatre on Sunday.
GEORGE — A wildland fire burned over 600-acres of brush and grass near the Gorge Amphitheatre on Sunday, causing officials to call for state mobilization to help control the blaze.
The fire, which was located about three miles south of the Gorge along the Columbia River, started about 3 p.m., with crews from Grant County Fire District No. 3 quickly responding to the scene. Initial responders had a difficult time accessing the fire, referred to as the “Sunland Fire," due to the terrain, which is home to a number of basalt cliffs and a popular spot for hikers and rock climbers, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman. A Level 3 evacuation notice was issued for the Old Vantage Highway and the Frenchman Coulee Recreation Area for hikers and boaters who might have been in the area.
As the wind-driven fire started to grow, a Level 2 evacuation notice was sent out at about 5 p.m. for 10 houses in the area east of Road V Southwest and south of Road 1 Southwest, with deputies going door-to-door advising residents to be prepared to evacuate their homes if the fire started to spread. Firefighters from fire districts across Grant County and Chelan County responded to combat the fire, with GCFD No. 3 calling for state mobilization of all available resources about 6 p.m.
State fire assistance was mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan Sunday night. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau ordered four wildland strike teams and one helicopter to aid the crews already on the ground combating the fire. The fire was under control about 8:45 p.m. Sunday night, with firefighters mopping up hot spots well into Monday, according to the sheriff's office.
A couple of boaters claimed responsibility for setting the fire, telling deputies they went to shore and started fire to cook some food and the wind carried the fire, causing it to get out of hand, Foreman said. As of Monday the fire appears to be accidental, he stated.
The proceedings at the Sasquatch Music Festival were not affected by the fire, with winds pushing smoke away from the venue. A couple of performances at the popular annual festival were canceled due to high winds, according to organizers.
Officials with the Washington State Patrol were on hand on Sunday if the fire started to turn in the direction of Interstate 90 and the highway needed to be closed. There were no reported injuries from the fire and no structures were damaged or lost.
Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.
The fire, which was located about three miles south of the Gorge along the Columbia River, started about 3 p.m., with crews from Grant County Fire District No. 3 quickly responding to the scene. Initial responders had a difficult time accessing the fire, referred to as the “Sunland Fire," due to the terrain, which is home to a number of basalt cliffs and a popular spot for hikers and rock climbers, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman. A Level 3 evacuation notice was issued for the Old Vantage Highway and the Frenchman Coulee Recreation Area for hikers and boaters who might have been in the area.
As the wind-driven fire started to grow, a Level 2 evacuation notice was sent out at about 5 p.m. for 10 houses in the area east of Road V Southwest and south of Road 1 Southwest, with deputies going door-to-door advising residents to be prepared to evacuate their homes if the fire started to spread. Firefighters from fire districts across Grant County and Chelan County responded to combat the fire, with GCFD No. 3 calling for state mobilization of all available resources about 6 p.m.
State fire assistance was mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan Sunday night. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau ordered four wildland strike teams and one helicopter to aid the crews already on the ground combating the fire. The fire was under control about 8:45 p.m. Sunday night, with firefighters mopping up hot spots well into Monday, according to the sheriff's office.
A couple of boaters claimed responsibility for setting the fire, telling deputies they went to shore and started fire to cook some food and the wind carried the fire, causing it to get out of hand, Foreman said. As of Monday the fire appears to be accidental, he stated.
The proceedings at the Sasquatch Music Festival were not affected by the fire, with winds pushing smoke away from the venue. A couple of performances at the popular annual festival were canceled due to high winds, according to organizers.
Officials with the Washington State Patrol were on hand on Sunday if the fire started to turn in the direction of Interstate 90 and the highway needed to be closed. There were no reported injuries from the fire and no structures were damaged or lost.
Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.