FIRE REPORT: 1,500 acres scorched in Douglas County
The Grand Coulee Fire Department responded to a call that there was a fire near SR 17 and Road 9 Northeast on Saturday night. The fire burned 1,500 acres and was fully contained as of Monday.
COURTESY PHOTO/GRAND COULEE FIRE DEPARTMENT
COULEE CITY — On Saturday evening a fire broke out near State Route 17 and Road 9 Northeast in Douglas County. The fire burned approximately 1,500 acres, according to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Crews got to the fire, and most of the initial attack was contained by 11:30 p.m. Saturday night.
The responding agencies included Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department, Electric City Fire Department, Coulee City Fire Department, Douglas County Fire District 3, Douglas County Fire District 5 and others.
The three biggest fires actively burning in Washington on Saturday:
The Pioneer Fire, Washington's largest active wildfire, expanded from 37,000 acres Saturday to around 38,300 acres Monday. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, containment remained steady at 13%. The fire started around 1 p.m. June 8 and is situated 10 miles southeast of Stehekin. A crew of 649 firefighters is currently battling the blaze, with full containment projected by Oct. 31.
The Retreat Fire, Washington's second-largest active blaze, had grown from 44,600 acres Saturday to approximately 45,600 acres Monday. The fire began around 4 p.m. July 23 and is about 14 miles southwest of Naches. According to InciWeb, fire containment had improved from 66% on Saturday to 70% as of Monday. The U.S. 12 corridor remains closed to the public for safety reasons. Currently, 536 firefighters are working to control the blaze.
The Cougar Creek Fire, currently the third-largest fire, ignited at 8:13 p.m. July 15 in the Blue Mountains southeast of Walla Walla. As of Monday, it had expanded to 23,600 acres, up from 21,500 acres Saturday. According to InciWeb, containment had increased by 10% since Saturday and stood at 50% on Monday. The fire is about one mile west of the intersection of Highway 129 and the Grand Ronde River. Approximately 373 personnel are actively working to construct containment lines and protect threatened structures and resources. Full containment is projected for Oct. 1.
Two new fires started in Washington:
The Stepstone Fire started Saturday afternoon at 4:35 p.m. in Okanogan County. The fire started at 3 acres but expanded to 15 acres. The fire was not contained Monday, and no evacuation orders were in effect.
The Bell Canyon Fire started at 10:37 a.m. Sunday and burned 10.7 acres with no containment as of Monday, according to the NIFC. The fire is in Okanogan County near Bell Canyon Road.
No new fires were contained in Washington.
These fires were burning in Washington on Monday, according to the NIFC:
The Easy Fire had expanded from 1,800 acres on Saturday to nearly 2,100 acres by Monday, according to InciWeb. The fire, located 17 miles west of Mazama, remained uncontained as of Monday. A team of 284 personnel is working to control the blaze, with an estimated containment date of Sept. 1. The fire was ignited by a dry lightning storm at 7:55 p.m. July 17.
The Flat Creek Fire started on Friday remained at about 20 acres and no containment as of Monday according to NIFC. The fire is in Chelan County, near Flat Creek.
The Miners Complex Fires, consisting of nine separate blazes, remained uncontained at 650 acres as of Monday, according to InciWeb. These fires erupted July 17 and 18, about 21 miles east of Darrington.
The Pincer Two Fire had burned almost 190 acres as of Monday and previously was at 120 acres Saturday. The fire remains uncontained, according to InciWeb. This fire started July 18, one mile east of Mineral Park, and was ignited by the same lightning storm that caused the Miners Complex Fires. InciWeb projects that containment will be achieved by Oct. 31.
The Ruby Fire started Friday morning at 7:20 a.m. in Whatcom County. The fire was 110 acres Saturday but had quickly expanded to almost 750 acres by Monday. There is no containment, according to InciWeb. There were 69 personnel working on the blaze Monday. There are trails, campsite and cross-country zone closures, according to the National Parks Service.
The Shoofly Fire has held steady at 104 acres and was 63% contained as of Monday, according to InciWeb. Ignited on July 8, the fire is located 9 miles north of Stevens Pass. There have not been any updates on the fire since Aug. 3 on InciWeb.
The Thomas Mountain Fire started Friday night at 7:21 p.m. in Kittitas County. The fire has remained at 14 acres with no containment as of Monday, according to NIFC.
The Williams Mine Fire started Aug. 5 at 12:03 p.m. in the Mount Adams Wilderness of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The fire nearly doubled in size between Saturday and Monday. The fire was 5,600 acres with 1% containment on Saturday. As of Monday, the blaze is about 10,600 acres. There are currently 288 personnel working on the fire.
The Wolf Fork Fire started Aug. 5 at 2:08 p.m. in Columbia County. The fire remained at 130 acres as of Monday, according to NIFC. The fire was 65% contained and level 1 evacuation orders were in effect.
Other fires reported throughout the state have burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. The majority are less than 1 acre.
Grant County’s wildfire danger continues to be very high. The Grant County Sheriff’s office has asked area residents to be careful with anything that could cause a wildfire.
Air quality was moderate Monday for the Columbia Basin, according to the website AirNow, which is operated by a consortium of government agencies.