Published February 1, 2024, Thursday

Today, we decided to help get you all up and excited about fires, let’s have FireDay EveryDay posts about structure fires, disasters, wildfires, and everything else in between Every. Single. Day. 

We are starting off our 365-day posts today!

TEN DOLLAR FIRE

The Ten Dollar may not be a firestorm but it is one that ignited in 2023. 

Fire watchers/chasers began posting online on various Social Media platforms, of a new start in Kittitas County on September 10, 2023, just before noon with evacuations and aircraft. At this time, the fire was reported as a 20-acre wildfire with Air Attack immediately requesting fire bosses, two LATs (Large Air Tankers), and a lead plane from Richland.

A level 2 evacuation order (Get Ready to Leave) near the Reds Fly Shop.

Just after noon, the WSDOT East area closed eastbound I-82 at Ellensburg due to the wildfire. The westbound lanes were open. However, the roadway on SR 821 was closed through the Canyon in both directions.

Just after 1300 hours (1312), the fire had grown to 300-plus acres and was said to have had a high rate of spread and possible threats to structures. The evacuation orders had intensified and spread to neighboring areas in Lmuma Creek to Burbank Creek areas due to a fire now burning between I-82 and SR 821 (Ellensburg/Yakima Canyon). Winds were being reported at 4 mph out of the East and temps were at 77*F.

It is unknown what was the initial cause of the wildfire and it may still be under investigation to this day.

There have been a lot of wildfires in this area and we know more will may occur in the future.

Photo Credits: WA DNR

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