Published July 4, 2024, Thursday, 1720 hours PT

Photo Credit: WSP Sgt. Moore

INCIDENT SUMMARY. A wildfire named the SAND FLAT FIRE is burning on Sand Flat Road in Okanogan County, Washington.

INCIDENT COOPERATORS. The current Incident Cooperators on this wildfire incident are from the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, local Fire Districts, Okanogan County EMA, WSP, and those from WA DNR. Those from WA DNR include resources SO 7210, SO 60, DZ 7251, SO 25, SO 7202, and SO 7203 which were dispatched this afternoon at 1454 hours to this area. They were quickly on the scene at 1509 hours.

SIZE UP. About 50 acres have been burned so far.

EVACUATIONS were lifted at 1610 hours PT for ENGH Road, Vista Vue Road, Mundinger Lane, and all roads north of Sand Flat Road in Omak per the Okanogan County Emergency Management Agency. (These were 1 and 2 evacuation levels).

CLOSED. Engh Road, east of Sand Flat Road to Vista View Road, Red Apple Road, Orchard View Road, and Sand Flat Road south of State Route 97.

Sign up for Alerts –> http://www.oaknogancounty.org (Okanogan County Alerts)

FIRE HISTORY

Photo Credit: Spokane County FD8 Firefighters

July 11, 2020. A wildfire started on July 11, 2020, at 1250 hours PT west of SR 172 near Road 11 and moving in a northern direction in Douglas County. A change in wind direction on that day, pushed the fire east towards Mansfield, Washington.

The fire was previously named the WATERVILLE FIRE but would later be changed to ROAD11FIRE on July 11, 2020.

Over the last two days, the fire’s progression moved towards Mansfield then was stopped. A level 2 evacuation order (GET READY) was issued on July 12, 2020, but would be later be downgraded to a Level 1 on July 13, 2020.

An update on July 11th, reported from many sources that it had soared to 10,000 acres. Weather reports on this date were 83*F temps and winds at 16 MPH and humidity down to 21% and sunny skies.

Smoke from the wildfire reached nearby Spokane County and the heavy smell of the smoke hung in the air. Command of the fire was under the direction of the SE WA Type 3 IMT with Incident Commander Bob Gear at the helm.

Mutual Aid units from Bridgeport FD

State Mobe Resources were ordered on July 11th and dispatched from Spokane County FD8, on July 12, 2020, and were a part of the Northeast team from SCFD8, Spokane Valley FD, Stevens County, Pend Oreille County and Lincoln Counties. They arrived on the scene that night midnight.

Other Incident Cooperators included the American Red Cross Northwest Region, who were on standby on July 11, 2020, and WSDOT who was called out for traffic control.

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