Quincy-area fire burns 350 acres

QUINCY — A fire in an area difficult to access about 11 miles north of Quincy on Thursday eventually grew to about 350 acres and required crews to remain on the scene overnight. 

The fire was reported about noon Thursday and Bob Horst, assistant chief for Grant County Fire District 3, said the scene is near GCFD 3’s boundary. 

“The biggest thing is it was out near the end of our district. It’s just a long way out there, and this time of year, a fire can get going pretty quick,” Horst said. “It’s very rural and remote out there.” 

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Thursday; high winds, low humidity and temperatures in the low 80s were in the forecast.  

“It’s still really warm and really dry,” he said. 

The winds were relatively light when fire crews arrived but picked up after about half an hour, he said. There are roads in the area, but they’re unimproved, Horst said, which slowed the response.  

The area is split between privately owned land, the Bureau of Land Management and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The fire burned through long-standing sagebrush, cheat grass and other weeds, while approaching but not burning a field of wheat stubble. Horst said one of the reasons crews were on the scene all night was the nature of the sagebrush. 

“The hard part about sagebrush is the roots will burn underground for a few days,” he said, increasing the potential for flare-ups.  

This summer hasn’t brought much rain to Quincy, or anywhere else in the Columbia Basin. Horst said late-summer rains are of limited value when it comes to reducing the potential for wildfire. 

“That doesn’t help the fuel, because it’s dead,” he said.  

Firefighters, wildfire apparatus and bulldozers from a number of other agencies also worked the fire lines. They included GCFD 5, Moses Lake; GCFD 7, Soap Lake; GCFD 8, Mattawa; GCFD 13, rural Ephrata, the Ephrata Fire Department and Royal Slope Fire and Rescue. Additional manpower was provided by BLM and DNR crews and a BLM helicopter with aerial support.  

Burning restrictions have been in effect all summer; those end Oct. 1. Even though the burn ban is lifted, Horst said, people should keep in mind that it’s still very dry with heightened fire danger as a result. People who are burning should keep a source of water nearby, watch the fire while it’s burning and make sure it’s completely out before leaving the scene. 

Editor's Note: This is an update on the fire that was originally reported here.