FIRE REPORT: Local fire causes road closure, lightning storm causes 9 WA fires

EPHRATA — Grant County Fire District 13 and Ephrata firefighters dealt with a 25-acre burn near Highway 28 and Road E NW Sunday, closing Highway 28 at Naylor Junction and Neva Lake Road. By 5:14 p.m. the fire was handled, and by 5:35 p.m. the highway was reopened. Fire is inferred to have been sparked by a bird on a power line, and was wind driven. 

The Miners Complex Fires consist of nine wildfires caused by lightning strikes July 17 and 18. The storm caused about 1,000 lightning strikes across Oregon and Washington. Fire crews are battling a 500-acre complex of lightning-caused fires in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, which has prompted trail closures and warnings from the U.S. Forest Service.

The Miners Complex includes: Miners Fire, Vista Ridge Fire, Dolly Creek Fire, Sulphur Three Fire, Sulphur Four Fire, Sulphur Thirty-Four Fire, Upper Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire, Lower Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire and Plummer Fire. 

The Miners Complex is burning approximately 21 miles east of Darrington in the Upper Suiattle Valley, along the Snohomish County and Chelan County border as of Sunday. According to a Forest Service press release, the fires are located in "extremely steep and rugged terrain."

As of Sunday afternoon, no homes are threatened. A Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the Miners Complex on Sunday. With this added support, firefighters will continue their efforts, depending on the terrain and conditions. Traditional firefighting tools such as dozers, water tenders, and engines are not viable options in this challenging environment, the Forest Service stated.

As of Monday, trail and campground closures due to the fire were as follows: Suiattle River Trail 784, Miner’s Ridge Trail 785, Image Lake Trail 785.1, Miner’s Ridge Lookout Trail 785.3, Grassy Point Trail 788, Buck Creek Pass Trail 789, Milk Creek Trail 790, Gamma Way Trail 791, Sulphur Mountain Trail 794, Miner’s Cabin Trail 795, Canyon Lake Trail 797, Upper Suiattle Trail 798, Pacific Crest Trail 2000, Miners Ridge Lookout, Sulphur Creek Campground and Suiattle Trailhead. 

Road and trail closures change as fire conditions change. People should check road and trail conditions ahead of time. 

• The Bridge Creek Fire ignited on July 19 and is 11 miles north of Keller. As of Monday, the fire spans approximately 1,100 acres and remains uncontained. SanPoil Road (Old River Road) is restricted to local residents. Upper Bridge Creek Road, 30 Mile Road, and Keno Mine Road are closed for fire operations, while Bridge Creek Road remains open. Evacuations Monday were as follows: Level 2: Residents along SanPoil Road (Old River Road) between Bridge Creek Road and 30 Mile Road. Level 1: Residents along Highway 21 between Bridge Creek Road and 30 Mile Road.

• The Cougar Creek Fire discovered on Monday in the Blue Mountains, about 50 miles east of Walla Walla had expanded to 8,721 acres by Monday but is at a 23% containment now. The Grande Ronde Road was closed from Troy, Oregon to the Highway 129 junction as of Monday. 

• The Davin Road Fire, about 46 miles northeast of Pasco, started at 8:40 a.m. on Sunday and was only one acre. By Monday, the acreage had gone up to 1,782 acres with no containment. The fire is burning in grass, brush, and rangeland and is threatening rangeland, wheat, infrastructure and the Lyon Ferry Fish Hatchery and Park. No evacuations are in effect at this time. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

• The Easy Fire, discovered on Wednesday about 58 miles northwest of Omak is 0% contained and has grown to from 286 acres on Saturday to 345 acres by Monday. As of Monday State Route 20, North Cascades highway, was closed in both directions between Granite Creek and Easy Pass trailhead due to the wildfire.

• The Frazer Crossing Fire started on Sunday in the Methow Valley about five miles east of Twisp and has spread to 175 acres with no containment. There is a level one advisory for the area of SR 20, east of Upper Beaver Creek, Frazer Crossing Road and Twisp. 

•The Owhi Flats Fire, discovered on Wednesday, July 17, has 30% containment and has burned 88 acres. The fire is located seven miles northeast of Nespelem. The fire is north of the Columbia River, east of Swawilla Basin Road and west of Highway 21. The estimated cost is $100,000. 

• The Pioneer Fire remains at 14% containment and continues to expand; Saturday it was at 26,407 acres, and by Monday it was at 30,352 acres. Discovered on July 8, initially reported on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan, it quickly spread to U.S. Forest Service land, including wilderness areas. According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, a level-one fire advisory is still in effect for Stehekin.

• The Shoofly Fire in the Cascades, about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee, as of Monday 60% contained and has burned 104 acres. The fire has been active since July 8.

• The Swawilla Fire ignited by lightning July 17, is located 11 miles east of Grand Coulee and has grown to roughly 5,500 acres with no containment Monday. Saturday, it was just 1,400 acres. Keller Ferry will remain closed. 

•The Wannacut fire in Okanogan County started at 9:02 Monday. It is currently at 15 acres with no containment. 

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 Monday for the Basin, according to the website AirNow, which is operated by a consortium of government agencies.