FIRE REPORT: Wetland fire burns 60 acres in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A 60-acre fire broke out in the wee hours of Monday morning in an undeveloped wetland in Moses Lake, according to a statement released Monday afternoon by the Moses Lake Fire Department.

At about 12:10 a.m. MLFD firefighters were dispatched to a field behind Fairchild Cinemas between Broadway Avenue and Wheeler Road, according to the statement, where crews found about 1.5 acres burning. Due to the marshy terrain, there was no access to the fire, so crews took a defensive stance and focused on protecting buildings around the area. Grant County Fire District 5 arrived a little after 12:30 to render mutual aid.

No injuries were reported and no structures were lost, according to the statement.

“The fire is still an active scene and crews are working to extinguish spot fires in the area,” MLFD spokesperson Heather Kok wrote in the statement. “The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation currently.”

The first evacuation notices for a populated area have been issued in the Pioneer Fire, which has been growing steadily on the eastern shore of Lake Chelan since June 8. The small community of Stehekin is under a level 1, or “get ready” evacuation notice. Stehekin, with a permanent population of about 100, has no road access; all transportation in and out is either by boat on Lake Chelan or by small aircraft. The Pioneer Fire was 14% contained at 18,731 acres Monday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

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

• The Arboretum Fire in Yakima, discovered July 10, was at 10 acres Monday. 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 listed as fully contained Monday at 305 acres. Suppression costs were estimated at $446,859.

• The Donkey Fire, discovered Friday about 30 miles northwest of Longview,  was 43% contained Monday at 30 acres. Cost of suppression was estimated at $426,303.

• The Joe Barker Fire, discovered July 3 in northern Walla Walla County about 43 miles northeast of Pasco, was fully contained Monday and had been remapped at one acre. Suppression costs were estimated at $30,000.

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

• The Shoofly Fire in the Cascades about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee was 56% contained Monday at 101 acres. Cost of suppressing the blaze was calculated at $10 million.

Other fires are 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 moderate Monday for most of Grant County, but good everywhere else in the Basin, 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.