FIRE REPORT: GCFD 3 receives $553,000 in grant funds

QUINCY — Grant County Fire District 3, which serves the Quincy area, has received $553,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, according to an announcement from the district. GCFD 3 wrote in the statement that it plans on using the funds to get a new water tender to replace its aging one.  

The new equipment purchased with the grant will help the district ensure it has adequate equipment to meet the increasing demands for fire response, the release said.  

The AFG program, overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers crucial financial aid to departments and independent emergency medical services nationwide. The grant provides funds for essential first responder needs such as protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other necessary resources.   

The district expects the new equipment to help keep firefighters and the community safe.  

Largest Washington fires:        

Retreat Fire: Washington’s largest active blaze was almost 45,600 acres and remains at 85% containment. The fire started at 4 p.m. July 14, about 14 miles southeast of Naches. It has 228 personnel on it. There are several closures in effect.  

Pioneer Fire: Washington's second-largest active wildfire remained at 38,700 acres and 23% containment. The fire started around 1 p.m. June 8 and is located 10 miles southeast of Stehekin. Six hundred twenty-two personnel were involved in suppressing the blaze.    

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:    

Upper Ruby Fire: 220 acres. 0% contained. Started 3:55 p.m. Tuesday. Located between Ruby Creek and Brown’s Lake. No information on crew size.  

One fire contained Tuesday:    

Bohoskey Fire: 200 acres. 100% containment. Began 2:45 Monday. Fire was located in Yakima County.  

Other fires:   

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: 2,130 acres. 36% containment. Began 8 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. 115 personnel.     

Flat Creek Fire: 43 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. Started 5 p.m. Wednesday. Located west of Brinnon. 373 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. on Aug. 12. Located 16 miles west of Cliffdell. 8 personnel on fire.   

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

Pincer Two Fire: 189 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 18. Located 1 mile east of Mineral Park. 15 personnel.    

Ruby Fire: 921 acres. 0% containment. Began 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. 93 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. 

Stayman Fire: 3,458 acres. 0% contained. Started 2:29 p.m. Tuesday. The fire is located in Chelan County. There are level one and three evacuation orders in effect. No information on crew size.   

Wicked Drive Fire: 700 acres. 65% contained. Started noon Sunday. Located 24 miles northwest of Spokane. 112 personnel.  

Williams Mine Fire: 11,755 acres. 13% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 689 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 Wednesday for the Columbia Basin.

SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow     

    A firefighter works to battle the Retreat Fire southeast of Naches. The fire is the largest currently burning in Washington state.