FIRE REPORT: Wildfire closes SR 17 near Ephrata
The terrain around the Dearinger Fire in the North Cascades has presented significant challenges for firefighters, but the blaze was 80% contained Monday.
COURTESY PHOTO/WESTERN WASHINGTON TYPE 3 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
EPHRATA — A fire broke out Tuesday in the northern portion of the Y formed by State Route 17 and State Route 282, according to first responder alerts.
The fire, a few minutes southeast of Ephrata was reported a little before 6 p.m. and had burned an estimated 500 acres. The fire resulted in a closure of SR 17 between SR 282 and State Route 28 to ensure public safety. A cause was unknown but initial reports indicated it began at the Ephrata Gun Range. The fire, named the Marksman Street Fire, was fully contained at about 7 p.m.
The Dearinger fire, which has been burning in the North Cascades about 40 miles northeast of Everett since June 22, is 80% contained at 48 acres, according to the Western Washington Incident Management Team.
“The fire site has presented significant challenges due to steep slopes, rocky surfaces, rolling debris and dangerous standing trees,” wrote Incident Commander Josh Riepe in a statement Saturday. Riepe also thanked the nearby community of Darrington for its support and warm hospitality to firefighters.
The 4,758-acre Pioneer Fire on the eastern shore of Lake Chelan was 7% contained Monday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Warm, dry weather and increased winds are expected to make firefighters’ jobs more difficult in the next few days, the NIFC wrote in a statement. The small communities of Manson, Chelan and Stehekin are all open to visitors for the holiday week, the NIFC added.
These other fires were also burning in Washington on Monday, according to the NIFC:
• The Beam Road Fire outside Zillah in the Yakima Valley is fully contained at 8,542 acres. The blaze was human-caused and costs were estimated at $1.5 million.
• The Diamondback Ridge Fire, also near Zillah, had burned 300 acres since its discovery May 17. Cost and containment information was not available.
• The Gold Creek Fire, discovered June 22 in the Methow Valley about 31 miles southwest of Omak, was fully contained at 278 acres Monday, The cause was unknown and costs were estimated at $1.7 million.
• The Mutual Aid 20151 Fire, just a few miles southwest of Clarkston, was at 50 acres Monday., It was discovered June 27. Cost and containment information was not yet available.
• The Neff Road Fire, discovered June 15 about 20 miles northeast of Pasco, was down to 250 acres Monday. It was fully contained and costs were estimated at $5,000.
• The River View Fire, discovered June 7 about 3 miles north of Yakima, held steady at 10 acres Monday. The fire was caused by human activity. Information about containment and cost was not available.
• The Seven Dairy Spring Fire, discovered June 30 in Lincoln County about 20 miles northeast of Odessa, was up to 28.3 acres Monday. Cost and containment information was not available.
• The South Fork Fire, about 35 miles west of Yakima, had burned about 27 acres since its discovery June 27. The cause was natural. Containment and cost information was not available.
Prescribed burns were underway at the Niles Sno-Park on SR 410 between Yakima and Mount Rainier, near the Beehive Reservoir south of Wenatchee and at Rothrock Ridge north of Wenatchee.
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.
Air quality was good across Washington state Monday, according to the website AirNow, which is operated by a consortium of government agencies. The Air Quality Index, or AQI, was forecast to be good the rest of the week.
Joel Martin may be reached by email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.