Thursday, September 19, 2024
45.0°F

FIRE REPORT: No new Washington fires Thursday

by NANCE BESTON
Staff Writer | August 23, 2024 1:50 AM

MOSES LAKE — Washington saw no new wildfires emerge prior to press time Thursday, though several fires continue to burn in the state. 

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. 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 fire contained Thursday: 

Charm Fire: 165 acres. 100% containment. Started 1:23 p.m. Monday and contained at 5:18 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was in Okanogan County. 


Other fires:


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: 403 acres. 8% contained. Started 5 p.m. Wednesday. Located west of Brinnon. 382 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. 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. 94 personnel. 


Six Mile Fire: 113 acres. 40% containment. Began noon Sunday. Located in Ferry County near the head of Cottonwood Creek. 44 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. 50% contained. Ignited 2:17 p.m. Sunday. Located in Ferry County. 44 personnel. 


Stayman Fire: 3,118 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: 11,764 acres. 19% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 697 personnel. 


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. 


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 Thursday for the Columbia Basin. 


SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow 


    Firefighters watching for spot fires near the Cougar Creek fire Aug. 8. The Cougar Creek fire is the third-largest blaze in Washington right now and is 80% contained.