SIT REP 1: Friday, August 18, 2023, 2030 PT

Gray Fire

Incident Summary

A firestorm (2-alarm brush fire) is burning in the 12000 block of South Gray Road, southwest of Lakeland Village and about 12 miles southwest of Spokane and near Medical Lake (Spokane County), Washington State called the GRAY FIRE, which broke out on Friday at noon.

It was originally reported as a 500-acre fire with a 0% containment status just after the initial fire response, has turned into a major fire or, as well call it, a FIRESTORM.

(Above) Photo Credit: AFSCME Council 28 WFSSE

Threatened

This fast-moving wildfire is deeply rooted (established) in heavy fire fuels which include grass, timber, and wheat. It is threatening homes, crops, Eastern State Hospital, Lakeland Village, Highway 202, and the town of Medical Lake.

The State EOC at Camp Murray has been activated and is currently at Level 2 to coordinate State resources:

Fire Mob Resources

4 Strike Teams (on order)

Air Resources

Type 3 IMT

Evacuations in Effect

LEVEL 3 (GO NOW!) EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR:

CITY OF MEDICAL LAKE: A town with a population of 5,000 residents. ALL AREAS OF THE CITY.

CITY OF FOUR LAKES.

EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL: The WA National Guard is helping evacuate staff patients and staff from the Hospital.

EAST

  • East Bank of Silver Lake to 3 Miles East
  • East to Clear Lake and Murphy on the East.
  • East of the City of Medical Lake
  • East of Silver Lake, especially the area encompassed by Medical Lake-Four Lakes Road to Lake Side Drive to Granite Lake Road with the southern boundary of I-90.
  • East to Bartholomew.

WEST

  • West to Gray Road.
  • West of I-90.

SOUTH

  • South to Medical Lake Tyler Road.

NORTH

  • North to Greengate Lane.
  • North to the Medical Lake.

LEVEL 1 (BE READY) EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR:

  • THE CITY OF CHENEY.

Current Status

The fire is estimated at 5,000 acres with a 0% containment status.

Level 2 and 3 evacuations are in place.

Local, County, State, and Federal Fire Agency resources are pouring in, responding to, on the scene, and on order for this major incident. State Mob resources were approved for this incident, along with another wildfire in Washington State called the OREGON FIRE.

Incident Cooperators

WA DNR

Snohomish County Fire District 21: From the areas surrounding the City of Arlington (Snohomish). Deployed Brush 49 with FFs Welch and Young. They will be part of the State Mob deployment.

WA National Guard: 20 WNG members from the 141st Air Refueling Wing are part of the State Mob plan to help staff evacuate those from the Eastern State Hospital along with multiple buses to move patients to an evacuation location.

American Red Cross: Shelter OPEN AT Cheney High School, 460 N 6th Street, Cheney, Washington State.

Cheney School District: Allowing the usage of their High School Facility for an evacuation shelter.

The City of Cheney.

Eastern State Hospital.

Through the Eyes of Social Media

Some are reporting on Social Media, embers are falling in their neck of the woods which is about 20 miles away. – Facebook user

(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog