Published Saturday, June 15, 2024, 1700 hours PT

Photo Courtesy: NE WA IMT Type 3, Team #2

INCIDENT SUMMARY: The NISQUALLY JOHN FIRE started from an unknown cause on June 14, 2024, at 0830 hours PT, located approximately seven (7) miles southwest of the town of Colton, Washington State. Incident #WA WFS-1303.

SIZE UP: The fire has burned about 1,221 acres and has a 0% containment status. Firefighters have been challenged with steep terrain and gusty winds.

RESOURCES: Resources include a total of 75 fire personnel along with Whitman County Fire Districts #12 and #14, WA DNR, WSP (Fire Marshal), the NE Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, IMT #2, and State mobe – Benton County Strike Team. The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located at nearby Colton High School in Colton.

INCIDENT COOPERATORS: Incident Cooperators include Colton High School staff and the School District.

ROADWAYS: Roadways Steptoe Canyon and Wawawai Roads along the Sanke River are currently open but please yield to working fire equipment and personnel who will be using this road system while entering and exiting the area.

Photo Credit: ID Department of Lands

FIRE WEATHER: The current fire weather in Colton is 60*F with mostly cloudy skies and winds at 20 miles per hour. The relative humidity is at 30% as of 1713 hours PT. On June 14, 2024, the NWS Spokane reported the fire was spewing smoke into the Lewiston (ID) area taking visibility down to five (5) miles at a time.

EVACUATIONS: All evacuation orders have been lifted.

Photo Credit: NE WA IMT Type 3, Team #2

FIRE HISTORY: NISQUALLY JOHN FIRE

Photo Credit: SE WA IMT (2018)

July 4-9, 2018: A wildfire broke out on July 4, 2018, on the Snake River about 11 miles northwest of Carlton (Whitman County) from an unknown cause. Air resources were able to make significant progress on the fire but they ran out of daylight to finish the firefight. State mobe resources are approved by the WA Fire Marshal’s office at 1529 hours, located 12 miles northeast of Colton when the fire was at 40 acres. Crops, infrastructure, homes, and outbuildings were said to be threatened at this time with no evacuations in effect. We remember the urgency of getting resources in place as quickly as possible with some farmers trying to save their livelihoods.

July 5, 2018: Spoke County Fire District #8 Firefighters reported they were called to respond as part of the State Mobe resources to the wildfire at 0330 hours PT which was part of the Spokane strike team response. Just like today, firefighters would be challenged by terrain being steep and having high temps.

July 6, 2018: Due to the fire behavior decreasing, firefighters were successfully able to contain the fire down to 30%. The Spokane County strike team arrived on the scene.

Photo Credit: Spokane County Fire District #8

July 7, 2018: the fire had burned about 1,350 acres of grass and brush and at 80% on this date. About 124 fire personnel including those from Whitman County District #14 and Spokane County Fire District #8 along with four crews and eight engines were assigned to the incident. The ICP was also located at the Colton High School. There were 12 structures still being threatened. ## Source: NW Fire Blog post 7/17/2018 https://thenwfireblog.com/2018/07/07/newly-reported-washington-state-nisqually-john-fire/ According to local media the fire would not be contained until July 9, 2018, at held at 1,300 acres. Reports of fireworks shell casings were said to be found at the origination of the fire location as being the possible cause.

July 15, 2017: A wildfire broke out in the area using the same name as this current wildfire. A before and after photo of what it looked at in the AM vs what it looked like in the PM. Per the WA DNR press release, on this date, the fire had burned about 3,000 acres and was located across from the Nisqually John Landing site. State mobe was also in effect.

Photo Credit: NWS Seattle (2017)

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