Wildfire Wednesday is all about the golden opportunity to share about past wildfires which have greatly impacted the northwest. The Evans Canyon Fire was one of many which burned in 2020. Information in this post is gleaned from Wikipedia, Inciweb, the City of Selah, and other verified sources.
Here is a timeline of that wildfire as it ignites on August 31st and progresses throughout the days.
August 31, 2020
Fire ignites on the afternoon of this day, on the south slopes of the Wenas Creek drainage, and burned mainly southeastwards due to breezy northwest winds.
September 1, 2020
The fire spreads into Kittitas County within the Umatanum Creek drainage and heading toward the Yakima River Canyon and Yakima/Kittitas Counties, Washington State.
Between September 1 – 2, 2020
The fire burned 8,900 acres. On the 1st, 400 homes are evacuated. The entire Yakima River Canyon rec area is closed. The City of Selah is threatened.
September 3, 2020
Fire behavior increases, and burns up to almost 13,000 acres, By this time, about 2,900 homes have totally been evacuated.
On the morning of this day, the fire exploded and 52,000 acres have been destroyed. 900 more homes are under mandatory evacuation orders. SR 82 in the Yakima River Canyon is shut down. Air equality suffers in the County.
WA DNR and WDFW close Wenas Wildlife Area due to being threatened by the fire, which includes approximately 150,000 total acres.
September 5, 2020
The fire had burned 73,868 acres and was 20% contained. About 952 total personnel were assigned along with 22 hand crews, 121 engines, 10 dozers, 2 skidgines, 19 water tenders, 2 copters, and 2 fixed-wing aircraft. Level 3 evacuations are downgraded to Level 2.
September 6, 2020
The fire had burned 76,000 acres and was listed as 40% contained.
September 8, 2020
The acreage has been reduced due to better mapping and is listed as 75,817 acres with a 70% containment status. At this time, there is 571 total personnel with 9 hand crews, 63 engines, 6 dozers, 2 skidgines, 9 water tenders, 6 helicopters, and 2 fixed-wing aircraft. The cause is still unknown and is under investigation.
Sources: Inciweb, City of Selah, Wikipedia
Pics: Photos from the wildfire
Credit/courtesy: Inciweb
Note: These photos are no longer available/active on the Inciweb site but are posted by the same agency in other areas of the internet. If we have not provided the correct photo credit, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can properly give you the full photo credit.
Hashtags used for this post are #EvansCanyonFire #WAwildfires2020
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