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FIRE REPORT: Four fires contained Labor Day weekend, including Kachess Complex

by NANCE BESTON
Staff Writer | September 4, 2024 2:30 AM

MOSES LAKE — Significant progress was made over the weekend as firefighters were able to bring four wildfires under control around Washington.  


Creston Fire — 50 acres. 100% containment. Started Aug. 31. Located south of Highway 2 and Tracy Road, near Creston. 

Horse Spring Fire — 45.5 acres. 100% contained. Started 5:54 p.m. Monday. Located near Horse Spring Coulee Road in Okanogan County. 

Kachess Complex — consisted of three fires. Stave Creek Fire: 12.1 acres, 100% contained. Thomas Fire: 9 acres, 100% contained. Waptus fire 0.5 acres, 100% contained. Started on Aug. 9. Located in the Cle Elum Ranger District of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. 

Upper Ruby Fire — 284 acres. 100% contained. Started 3:55 p.m. Aug. 20. Located between Ruby Creek and Brown’s Lake. 

Largest Washington fires:        

Retreat Fire — Washington’s largest fire. 45,601 acres. 85% containment. started at 4 p.m. July 14. Located about 14 miles southeast of Naches. 228 personnel. 

Pioneer Fire — WA’s second-largest wildfire. 38,735 acres. 23% containment. Began around 1 p.m. June 8. Located 10 miles southeast of Stehekin. 401 personnel. 

Cougar Creek Fire — WA’s third-largest fire. 24,091 acres. 80% contained. Blazed up at 8 p.m. July 15. Located south of Walla Walla. 226 personnel. 


One new fire started Tuesday: 

Cimarron Fire — 25 acres. 0% containment. Started Monday. Located outside of Spokane. 


Other fires:     


Easy Fire — 2,130 acres. 36% containment. Began 8 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. 63 personnel. 

Lodgepole Fire — 35 acres. 6% contained. Started at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 12. Located 16 miles west of Cliffdell. 8 personnel on fire. 

Miners Complex Fires — 1,100 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 17. Located 21 miles east of Darrington. Fire crew details unavailable. 

Pincer Two Fire — 211 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 18. Located 1 mile east of Mineral Park. 15 personnel. 

Ruby Fire — 959 acres. 0% containment. Began 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. 80 personnel. 

Six Mile Fire — 113 acres. 90% containment. Began noon Sunday. Located in Ferry County near the head of Cottonwood Creek. 25 personnel. 

Shoofly Fire — 104 acres. 63% contained. Ignited on July 8. Located 9 miles north of Stevens Pass. No crew information available. 

Stranger Creek II Fire — 66 acres. 90% contained. Ignited 2:17 p.m. Sunday. Located in Ferry County. 79 personnel. 

Williams Mine Fire — 12,161 acres. 31% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 228 personnel. 


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. 

The Columbia Basin’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. 

Air quality was good Tuesday for the Columbia Basin. 

SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow 

    A photo of the Pioneer fire on Aug. 18. The fire is the second largest in WA at 28,735 acres and 23% containment.