FIRE REPORT: Royal Slope EMS trains on Vantage Bridge

ROYAL CITY — Royal Slope Fire Rescue EMS participated in rope rescue training on the Interstate 90 Vantage Bridge on Tuesday. The training was hosted by Garco Construction with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Grant County Fire District 8 also attending.  

“It was good to practice using the resources on the bridge before something happens,” Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. 

According to a statement from the GCSO, the training simulated how firefighters will access and remove a bridge maintenance employee who falls from the bridge deck onto lower portions of the bridge.  

The crews were using a quint fire truck, Foreman said, which resembles a ladder truck. The quint lowers a rescue basket below and then elevates the person back up. The crews were also trained in how to do that process with an injured individual. The training allowed the crews to know exactly where and how to use equipment in case of an emergency.  

“They haven’t had to do a rescue off that bridge but with the construction they wanted to get that training in in case they were required to respond,” Foreman said.  

Largest Washington fires:        

Retreat Fire: Washington’s largest active blaze was at 45,600 acres and remained at 85% containment Tuesday. The fire started at 4 p.m. July 14, about 14 miles southeast of Naches. It has 228 personnel on it.   

Pioneer Fire: Washington's second-largest active wildfire remained at 38,700 acres and 23% containment as of Tuesday. The fire started around 1 p.m. June 8 and is located 10 miles southeast of Stehekin.     

Cougar Creek Fire: Washington’s third-largest fire had burned almost 24,100 acres and was 80% contained Tuesday. The fire blazed up around 8 p.m. July 15 approximately 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 129 and the Grand Ronde River, south of Walla Walla. Two hundred twenty-six personnel were on the scene.  

One new Washington fire:    

Stayman Fire: 30 acres. 0% contained. Started 2:29 p.m. Tuesday. The fire is in Chelan County. There are level one and three evacuation orders in effect. No information on crew size.  

One fire contained Tuesday:    

The Smith Canyon started at 10:38 a.m. Sunday. The fire burned 26.3 acres but is fully contained. The fire was in Franklin County 7 miles southeast of Mesa.  

Other fires:   

Bohoskey Fire: 200 acres. 0% containment. Began 2:45 p.m. Monday. Fire is in Yakima County. No information on personnel.  

Charm Fire: 165 acres. 0% containment. Started 1:23 p.m. Monday. The fire is in Okanogan County. No information on crew size.    

Easy Fire: 2,100 acres. 29% containment. Began 8 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. 129 personnel.     

Flat Creek Fire: 40 acres. 0% contained. Started on Friday. Located in Chelan County, near Flat Creek. Crew size not specified.     

Jupiter Fire/2620 Road Fire: 398 acres. 8% contained. It started at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Located west of Brinnon. 415 personnel.   

Kachess Complex: Consists of three fires. Stave Creek Fire: 12.1 acres, 35% contained. Thomas Fire: 9 acres, 95% contained. Waptus fire 0.5 acres, 100% contained. Started on Aug. 9. Located in the Cle Elum Ranger District of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. 155 personnel.    

Lodgepole Fire: 35 acres. 6% contained. Started at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12. Located 16 miles west of Cliffdell. 8 personnel on fire.   

Miners Complex Fires: 1,100 acres. 0% containment. It began July 17. Located 21 miles east of Darrington. Fire crew details unavailable.     

Pincer Two Fire: 190 acres. 0% containment. It began July 18. Located 1 mile east of Mineral Park with 15 personnel.    

Ruby Fire: 902 acres. 0% containment. Began 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. 94 personnel.    

Six Mile Fire: 113 acres. 0% containment. Began noon Sunday. Located in Ferry County near the head of Cottonwood Creek. 36 personnel.    

Shoofly Fire: 104 acres. 63% contained. Ignited on July 8. Located 9 miles north of Stevens Pass. No crew information available.   

Shugart Fire: 15 acres. 0% contained. Blazed up 10:17 a.m. Saturday. Located in Chelan County. No information on personnel. 

Stranger Creek II Fire: 66 acres. 0% contained. Ignited 2:17 p.m. Sunday. Located in Ferry County. 44 personnel.  

Wicked Drive Fire: 700 acres. 0% contained. Started noon Sunday. Located 24 miles northwest of Spokane. 85 personnel.  

Williams Mine Fire: 11,600 acres. 10% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 702 personnel.    

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.      

The Columbia Basin’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 good Tuesday for the Columbia Basin.  

Sources: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow     

    Royal Slope Fire Rescue EMS learns how to safely access and remove a bridge maintenance employee who fell from the bridge deck onto lower portions of the bridge. Washington State Patrol managed the traffic on the bridge.