Vantage, Washington | Another wildfire has ignited in the State but this one is located on Silica Road in Grant County, Washington known as the OLD VANTAGE ROAD FIRE (WA DNR named). We were also calling it in the early stages of the fire as the VANTAGE FIRE.   Fire Command has named this incident as VANTAGE COMMAND.

Here is a timeline of how this incident has unfolded:

2203 PT | Fire reportedly burning in the area of Vantage Road near The Feathers. Multiple agencies responding. I-90 being impacted by smoke.  Fire behavior is active with wind-driven runs and threatening structures.  E4202 and SE Martin dispatched.

2222 PT | Structure protection in effect. Tenders 3621, 3121 refilled with water.

2226 PT | Vantage Command.  20 minutes on the incident clock.

================== Evacuations in effect ===================

2228 PT |  Level 1 evacuations in effect. Campers and climbers told to evacuate from Old Vantage Hwy, southwest of George due to impending fire in the area.

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2233 PT | WA DNR fire assets and personnel dispatched at 2201 PT. E4202 and SE Martin. 50 acres. Grass and brush.  This is in Grant County, located on Silica Road.

2236 PT | Fire is pushing to the east towards structures and bumping up against I-90. Specialized tenders along with (2) Type 3’s are inbound.

2251 PT | I-90 and westbound Silica Rd shutting down by WSP.  Discussing detour routes.

2257 PT | East flank is now heading towards the North.  WSP asking for DOT to bring out VMS signs for I-90 road closures.

2301 PT | Firefighters working due diligently to get this fire under control.

2306 PT | Fire is located at I-90 milepost 143 at Silica Road.  Command Post is located inside the City limits of Vantage.

2309 PT | Fire near Old Vantage Highway on the Grant County side of the Columbia River. Not impacting the Town of Vantage which is further south on the opposite side of the river.  15-20 acres in heavy sage and is wind-driven. No structures lost.

2313 PT | Fire being called #OldVantageRoadFire by DNR. #VantageCommand by Fire Command. #VantageFire by us prior to fire incident being named.

2315 PT | Fire has burned up to the I-90 guardrail. Several units are patrolling. Federal resources are on-scene. No needs for state mobe yet. IC to assign a Division and have  Federal units being deployed.

2318 PT | North Flank: flames visible. Being assessed to see what the source is. Gates are now open. Wind has shifted from the west. This road was used in a previous fire but now it’s all thick growth and swampy.

2335 PT | Local units were going back into service with one rig on-scene. A task force was on the ground with a mix of USFS and WA DNR fire personnel.  They were assessing the scene.  As units were going back into service, another fire call came in. This was for an outside fire off of 262 East in Othello.

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – 7/11/2020 2336 PT