Update 3- July 7, 2020 – Tuesday

PM Update

A wildfire is burning in the Saddle Mountains, on Road E just east of Mattawa in Grant County, Washington State.  The fire is burning in an area in unpopulated mountains.

Approximately 186 total personnel including 6 crews, 13 engines and no helicopters are assigned at the moment.

Photo Credit | WA Fire Marshal

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction or TFR in effect.  No drones should be in the fire zone. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA.

Currently, there has been 5,760 acres burned and firefighters have a 10% containment status. This was lowered due to high winds that picked up in the area..

Roadways SR 24 from Road 24 SW to Hendricks Road were closed but reopened this morning at 0145 hours PT.

Photo Credit |  WSP Trooper John Bryant

This wildfire is being called the SADDLEMTNFIRE2020. #SaddleMountainFire2020 #SaddleMtnFire2020

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 7/7/2020 1930 PT

Update 2 – July 7, 2020 – Tuesday

AM Update

A wildfire is burning in the Saddle Mountains, on Road E just east of Mattawa in Grant County, Washington State.  The fire is burning in unpopulated mountains and is being battled by air resources.

Approximately 186 total personnel including 6 crews, 13 engines and no helicopters are assigned at the moment.

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction or TFR in effect.  No drones should be in the fire zone. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA.

The fire has destroyed 4,000 acres and there has been a successful 40% containment status gained.

The fire suppression and containment costs for this incident have reached $300,000 costs-to-date.

This wildfire is being called the SADDLEMTNFIRE2020. #SaddleMountainFire2020 #SaddleMtnFire2020

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 7/7/2020 0645 PT

Update 1 – July 6, 2020 – Monday

A wildfire is burning in the Saddle Mountains, on Road E just east of Mattawa in Grant County, Washington State.  The fire is burning in unpopulated mountains and is being battled by air resources.

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction or TFR in effect.  No drones should be in the fire zone. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA.

Map Credit | Grant County Sheriff’s Office

Fire units and equipments were dispatched today at  1311 PT which include:  BATT-32 CHIEF-601 CREW-22 CREW-52 DIV-601 E-4304 E-4401 E-4409 E-561 E-6696 E-841 E-842 E-863 PATROL-604 SE-JONES S SE-POLLACK SE-SEWELL SE-TSUBOTA.  Units represent  Grant County Fire Districts 5 (sent 3 tenders and Dozer5) and 8, Royal Slope, Hanford and Franklin County Fire Departments.

The SE WA Type 3 IMT assumed command at 1900 hours PT.

Additional Fire resources assigned:  Grant County Sheriff Office.  SE WA Type 3 IMT Team 2(Fire Managers), WA EMD, WA Fire Marshal.

A resource order was dispatched through the Puget Sound Interagency Communications Center at 1530 PT to respond to Highway 24 at milemarker 62.

The fire has scorched 4,000 acres of grass and brush with a rapid rate of spread.  The containment status is unknown at the time of this post. Acreage per WA DNR’s CAD system.

Photo Credit | Vicki Holt

This wildfire is being called the SADDLEMTNFIRE2020. #SaddleMountainFire2020 #SaddleMtnFire2020

This fire name has been used many times over.  Fire history using this name include:

4/28/2020 | #SaddleMontainFire | Phoenix, Arizona.  3-4 acres. Forward progress has been stopped, mop-up operations in progress. – BLM AZ Fire

7/24/2019 | #SaddleMountainFire | 34 miles ENE of Yakima, near Mattawa, Washington. 350 acres. – Wildfire Bot

9/4/2018-9/7/2018  | #SaddleMountainFire | Grays Harbor County, WA. 67 acres. Helicopters and crews on-scene. The fire was quickly lined and fully contained on 9/7/2018.. – WA DNR

Photo Credit  | WA DNR

8/02/2018 | #SaddleMountainFire | SE of Othello, Washington State.  5 engines, 1 helicopter are dispatched. Fire at 1,000 acres. – WA DNR

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 7/6/2020 2330 PT