Thousands of acres burn as wildfires rage in central WA
By RICHARD BYRD
Staff Writer
DESERT AIRE - Thousands of acres of land were charred as a result of a number of wildfires that broke out in southern Grant County and Kittitas County on Thursday.
The Buckshot Fire broke out Thursday afternoon about 3 p.m. near Desert Aire, about two miles southwest of Mattawa. High winds caused the flames to rapidly grow and Level 3 evacuation notices, evacuate immediately, were sent out for Cox Landing, Road 26 Southwest, south of Road U, Lakeside Way and all areas between in the community of Desert Aire, including Susan Boulevard, Roslyn Court, Sunset Boulevard and Ross Court. All other areas in Desert Aire that were not under a Level 3 notice were at a Level 2. The Level 2 notice was canceled about 9:35 p.m. by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Level 3 notice was downgraded to a Level 1 about 10 minutes later. A Red Cross shelter was set up at Wahluke Junior High for evacuees.
Mobilization of state firefighting resources was authorized by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, per the request of Grant County Fire District No. 8 Chief Dave Patterson, about 8:45 p.m. Thursday evening. Five wildland strike teams and two hand crews were dispatched to the fire and the state Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray was put at a Level 3 to coordinate state assistance. The fire was reported to be about 1,000 acres in size Friday morning and was about 10 percent contained.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 10 Administrator Mike O’Hare determined the fire was a major threat and would constitute a major disaster. As a result, he approved a request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) about 10 p.m. Thursday evening.
“FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and are made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster,” reads a press release from FEMA. “Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies,” reads a press release from FEMA.
Another wildfire broke out on Road L Southwest Thursday afternoon and prompted the closure of state Route 24 at the Vernita Bridge. The bridge was reopened by officials Friday morning and the fire is estimated to have burned around 29,000 acres and is 40 percent contained as of Friday morning.
Another wildfire, dubbed the “Boylston Fire,” burning on the west side of the Vantage Bridge in Kittitas County only complicated matters for regional firefighters. The fire broke out about the same time as the fires in southern Grant County on Thursday in the median and right shoulder of Interstate 90 near Kittitas, prompting the closure of the interstate in both directions. Westbound I-90 was reopened Friday morning, but the eastbound lanes remain closed with traffic diverted at exit 115 through Kittitas to the Vantage Highway. One eastbound I-90 lane was opened at the Kittitas interchange to the Vantage Bridge with a 40 mph restriction about 3 p.m. on Friday.
Level 3 evacuation notices were issued for the Auvil Fruit Company, Getty’s Cove and Wanapum State Park. Fire officials estimate the fire had burned 70,000 acres as of Friday morning.
Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.