FIRE REPORT: Fires burn over two million acres nationwide

MOSES LAKE — As of Monday morning, there are 102 large active wildfires being managed nationwide, burning an estimated two million acres according to the National Interagency Fire Center. In Washington, there are around 182,300 acres burning according to NIFC. 

The press release says that fire managers are employing full suppression strategies on 94 of these wildfires. In response to the situation, 27,110 wildland firefighters and support personnel have been assigned to wildfires across the country, 604 crews, 1,625 engines and multiple aviation resources, including four Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems.  

In Washington, there are fuels and fire behavior advisories in place due to the ongoing wildfire crisis. The National Interagency Fire Center has released the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for July through October. According to the report, with evacuation orders in effect on 25 wildfires nationwide, it is crucial for residents, travelers and workers nationwide to remain vigilant and heed the guidance of local authorities.

The press release says that as the nation continues to navigate through fire season, it is crucial to prioritize initial attacks on new fires to prevent them from escalating and threatening communities.  

The report also reminds people to be vigilant when participating in recreational activities and to be extremely careful with anything that could ignite a fire.  

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

• The Big Horn Fire started at 1:07 p.m. July 22 near the town of Bickleton in Klickitat County. The fire is 50,000 acres as of Monday. The fire went from 38% contained Saturday to 52% contained by Monday according to InciWeb. Evacuation orders for nearby residents have been issued. 

• The Black Canyon Fire was reported at 7:21 p.m. July 22. The fire is about 9,200 acres with 89% containment by Monday according to Inciweb. There are multiple evacuation notices in effect. The estimated containment date is Aug. 1.  

• The Bridge Creek Fire ignited July 19 and is 11 miles north of Keller. As of Monday, the fire is at 3950 acres according to DNR. The fire is now 43% contained. There are multiple evacuation orders in effect according to Inciweb, as well as multiple road restrictions.  

• The Cougar Creek Fire, discovered July 15 in the Blue Mountains, about 50 miles east of Walla Walla, was sitting at about 14,800 acres Saturday but had expanded to about 15,700 acres by Monday. It is not at 29% containment. An evacuation order is in effect in the area and some roads have travel restrictions near the Washington-Oregon border. 

• The Easy Fire, discovered July 17 about 58 miles northwest of Omak, remains uncontained and grew to about 530 acres by Monday according to InciWeb. On Sunday, State Route 20 North Cascades Highway was closed between Granite Creek and Easy Pass trailhead in both directions due to the wildfire. Several parts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are closed. According to officials, the estimated containment date is Sept. 1 due to rough ground and heavy vegetation. 

• The Gooseneck Fire started Wednesday at 2:37 p.m. in Asotin County according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire remains at about 1,600 acres by Monday. The fire is 75% contained. 

• The Horsethief Lake Fire started Saturday and is at 259 acres with no containment as of Monday. The fire is in Klickitat County, and evacuation orders are in effect.  

• The Miners Complex Fires consist of nine wildfires caused by lightning strikes July 17 and 18 according to the Miners Complex Facebook. The fire remains at 500 acres with no containment as of Monday according to InciWeb. 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. 

• The Mullen Hill or 195 Fire started one mile south of Spokane according to the Washington State DNR Wildfire Twitter. The fire is 10 acres and not contained according to the Tweet.  

• The Owhi Flats Fire, discovered July 17, has 30% containment and has remained at 84 acres as of Monday. The fire is 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 to fight the fire so far is $100,000.  

• The Pioneer Fire is at 15% containment and has expanded to about 33,300 acres by Monday. Discovered on July 8, initially reported on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan, it quickly spread to the U.S. Forest Service land, including wilderness areas. Multiple evacuation orders are in effect due to the fire. The estimated containment date is Aug. 31. 

•The Retreat Fire, also listed as the Rimrock Fire, started Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. and rapidly grew from about 18,300 acres Saturday to about 24,700 acres by Monday with 4% containment according to InciWeb. It is burning in heavy timber and grass-fueled areas. There are level two and level three evacuations in effect. 

• The South Columbia Basin Fire started on Friday at 1:39 p.m. located in Spokane County near the towns of Cheney and Tyler. The fire is currently 250 acres and 20% contained as of Monday. There are level two evacuations in effect. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  

• The Shoofly Fire in the Cascades, about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee, remains 60% contained Monday 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 from about 40,900 acres on Saturday to about 46,300 acres by Monday. The fire is now 26% contained according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The post office is currently closed because of the wildfire according to a press release from USPS. The Keller Ferry will open temporarily to help evacuate the town of Keller. Roads have been closed near the fire and more may be closed as the fire grows. Keller is now at a level three evacuation starting on Thursday. The estimated containment date is Aug. 15, 2024. 

• The Umtanum Canyon Fire started Saturday at 3:46 p.m. in Kittitas and Yakima Counties. The fire is 326 acres and 70% contained according to NIFC. SR-821 is closed at the Big Horn rec area and Umptanum rec area on the south according to Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office. There are multiple evacuation orders in effect.  

Grant County’s wildfire danger continues to be very high. The Grant County Sheriff’s office has asked area residents to be careful with anything that could cause a wildfire. 

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