FIRE REPORT: MLFD sees busy weekend, Soap Lake-area fire shuts down Hwy. 28

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Fire Department staff said the weekend was busy on both the fire and medical side over the past few days. Grant County Fire District 7 also responded to a fire that forced Highway 28 to close for a time Sunday.

“We were incredibly busy over the weekend,” MLFD Public Information Officer Heather Kok said

The busy weekend began with a fire in the northeastern corner of the intersection of W. Lakeshore Drive, near the lake behind the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel, Kok said. The fire appeared to be a fire set by those staying in a small homeless camp there who had started the fire as a warming fire. Multiple trucks responded and the blaze was put out quickly. However, MLFD personnel had to respond to a second fire at the same location Sunday.

Kok said the weekend is a trend with June so far seeing about 15% more calls in 2024 to this point, versus the same point in June last year. 

Contributing factors include the heat which contributes for conditions that lead to fires and people not being cautious during increased heat conditions which leads to heat exposure issues and more frequent EMS calls. The department also saw an increase in the number of complaints regarding fires being lit.

While a general burn ban is in effect in Grant County, contained fires are legal on private property so long as they are contained, at least 25 feet from any structures and water is available to put the fire out if needed. 

Anyone with questions regarding whether they can burn should contact their local fire department, police department or sheriff’s office.

To avoid heat injuries, Kok said to avoid the heat between 1 and 5 p.m., the two hottest parts of the day, especially if temperatures are above 90 degrees. Drinking water, using sunscreen and staying in the shade are all good ideas as well. If a person stops feeling thirsty, stops sweating or has other signs of dehydration, Kok said they should seek shade or another cooling spot immediately and begin drinking water to rehydrate.

Late Sunday morning Grant County Fire District 7 responded to a brush fire at the intersection of Highway 28 and Road A, just east of Soap Lake. When responders first arrived, about two acres were burning in easily combustible fuels and had the potential to cross the highway. To ensure driver safety, the highway was closed while the fire was dealt with, according to a GCFD 7 statement. 

Four brush trucks and assistance from the Ephrata Fire Department, Grant County fire districts 12 and 13 were brought in to fight the fire due to the red flag warning conditions adding to the danger the fire posed. 

The cause of the fire was identified and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department was alerted to assist with the investigation. The landowner was cited for reckess burning.

The fire grew to 8.3 acres before it was put out, according to the GCFD 7 statement.

Multiple large fires are burning in Washington, though none of them were in Grant County at the time this report was finalized. 

The Slide Ranch fire about 4 miles south of White Swan has burned about 3,100 acres and destroyed 17 homes and damaged an additional 10. The fire also threatens an additional 25 homes as it burns through grass and timber. It was about 20% contained per the National Interagency Fire Center. 

The Pioneer Fire in Chelan County on the northeast bank of Lake Chelan had grown to about 4,600 acres after being discovered June 8. The fire is burning in grass and timber and threatens 280 residences and 19 minor structures. One minor structure has already been destroyed per the NIFC. The wildfire was 0% contained as of late Monday afternoon. 

The Gold Creek Fire, located about 3 miles south of Carlton was reported shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday and had burned about 100 acres as of Monday morning. It had grown to more than 220 acres by 6 p.m. Monday. A Level 2 evacuation order was in effect for the area. A Department of Natural Resources press release indicated that four hand crews, four engines, one dozer, two water tenders, two helicopters and other resources were being used to contain the fire. The wildfire was 0% contained as of 6 p.m. Monday.

R. Hans “Rob” Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com.