FIRE REPORT: Evacuation notices issued for Electric City

ELECTRIC CITY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation warnings Tuesday afternoon in Electric City due to a wildfire that broke out near Sunbanks Resort. 

Level 2 warnings — be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice — were in place Tuesday afternoon for the area from Sunny Drive to Fifth Street North. Level 1 notices — get ready — were in place between State Route 155 and Western Avenue.

Updates are available at Facebook.com/GrantCoSheriff.

State fire assistance has been mobilized for the Wallace Walker Road Fire near Kahlotus, about 33 miles northeast of Pasco. The Wallace Walker Road Fire started Monday at approximately 2:19 p.m., according to a statement from the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office. This fire was estimated at 361 acres and growing Tuesday afternoon. It is burning in grass and brush and is threatening crops, power infrastructure, and homes. No evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.

The Pioneer Fire, which has been growing steadily on the eastern shore of Lake Chelan since June 8, was up to 20,348 acres Tuesday and 14% contained. Fourteen crews, nine helicopters, 18 engines, 22 water tenders and 18 heavy equipment were engaged in suppressing the blaze. The small community of Stehekin is under a level 1, or “get ready” evacuation notice. 

These other fires were also burning in Washington on Tuesday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center:

• The Arboretum Fire in Yakima, discovered July 10, held steady at 10 acres Tuesday. The cause was undetermined, and cost and containment information were not yet available.

• The Cougar Creek Fire, which was discovered Monday in the Blue Mountains about 50 miles east of Walla Walla, was at 621 acres Tuesday. Cost and containment information was not yet available.

• The Donkey Fire, discovered Friday about 30 miles northwest of Longview,  was fully contained Tuesday at 38 acres. Cost of suppression was estimated at $986,450. The cause was listed as human activity.

• The Shoofly Fire in the Cascades about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee was 56% contained Tuesday at 104 acres. Acres. The fire has been burning since July 8. Cost of suppressing the blaze was calculated at $10 million.

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 moderate Tuesday for the entire Columbia 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.