FIRE REPORT: More than 100 human-caused fires in the Northwest so far this summer

PORTLAND, Ore. — Since June, there have been 100 human-caused wildfires on national forests and grasslands in Oregon and Washington, according to a statement from the U.S. Forest Service. While firefighters have been largely successful in putting out these preventable fires, the extremely hot and dry conditions are significantly ramping up fire danger across the region.     

“We’re entering a very dangerous time period in the Pacific Northwest wildfire season,” Ed Hiatt, Pacific Northwest assistant fire director for operations, wrote in the statement. “Mother Nature turned on the oven for a week in local forests and now we’re preparing for the potential of dry lightning and gusty winds.”

Local responders are closely tracking these deteriorating conditions where any new wildfire will have the potential to spread rapidly and burn intensely right from the start. And as firefighters respond to lightning-sparked fires a preventable, human-caused wildfire can limit the availability of needed engines, dozers, helicopters and other resources. 

“It’s as dry as I’ve ever seen it,” Hiatt wrote. “From the Canadian border to southeast Oregon, multiple areas have broken daily records for forecasted fire intensity. Bottom line? If it starts, it’s going to burn hot and it’s going to burn fast.”

The Pioneer Fire burning along the eastern shore of Lake Chelan had grown to 13,492 acres Thursday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Containment remained at 14%. 

These other fires were also burning in Washington on Thursday, according to the NIFC:

• The 507 fire about 16 miles southeast of Olympia was discovered Tuesday afternoon and had grown slightly, to 10.4 acres Thursday. The cause was human activity, but cost and containment information were unavailable.

• The 1980 Slide Ranch Fire, discovered June 22 about 20 miles southwest of Yakima, was 99% contained Thursday at 3,166 acres. The fire was human-caused, and costs were estimated at $4 million.

• The Arboretum Fire in Yakima, discovered Wednesday evening, was at 10 acres Thursday. The cause was undetermined, and cost and containment information were not yet available.

• The Balsam Root Fire on the northwest outskirts of Wenatchee was still fully contained Thursday at 305 acres. Suppression costs were estimated at $446,859.

• The Gold Creek Fire, discovered June 22 in the Methow Valley about 31 miles southwest of Omak, remained fully contained at 278 acres Thursday. Costs were estimated at $1.7 million. The cause of the blaze was undetermined.

• The Joe Barker Fire in northern Walla Walla County about 43 miles northeast of Pasco was discovered July 3. It was fully contained Thursday at 1,436 acres and suppression costs were estimated at $30,000.

• The Middle Mountain Fire about 34 miles northeast of Grand Coulee was discovered July 4 and was fully contained at 14.2 acres Thursday. Costs were estimated at $3 million. The cause was reported to be natural.

• The Mutual Aid 20151 Fire, discovered June 27 a few miles southwest of Clarkston, remained at 50 acres Thursday. Cost and containment information was not yet available and the cause was undetermined.

• The Red Wolf Fire across the Snake River from Clarkston was at 15 acres Thursday. Cost and containment information were not yet available.

• The Road 11 Fire burning about 12 miles southwest of Mansfield remained fully contained Thursday at 840 acres. Costs were estimated at $209,000.

• The Sand Flat Fire about 2 miles northeast of Omak was discovered July 4 and remained at 120 acres Thursday. The cause was undetermined and cost and containment information was not available.

• The Shoofly Fire in the Cascades about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee was still uncontained Wednesday at 125 acres. Cost of suppressing the blaze was recalculated at $10 million.

Other fires are reported throughout the state, but 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 Thursday except for pockets of moderate air quality around Lake Chelan and Clarkston, according to the website AirNow, which is operated by a consortium of government agencies.

Joel Martin may be reached by email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.