STRUCTURE FIRE | EPHRATA WASHINGTON | 1

July 4, 2018 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

EPHRATA, Wash. – A fire erupted inside an Ephrata residential structure, sending heavy billowing dark smoke outside and observed by many. The fire broke out on July 4, 2018, on Wednesday from an unknown cause.

The house fire is located in the 100 block of L Street NE where firefighters from Ephrata and the Grant County Fire District 13 responded.

Firefighters quickly began engaging the fire.

Image may contain: one or more people and outdoor

Photo Credit | Grant County Fire District 13

Both Ephrata Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff Office were also on-scene of the fire.

Fire crews are currently battling this fire and limited details are available.

Photo Credit | Grant County Sheriff Office

No injuries to casualties or firefighters have been reported at this time.

No preliminary cause of the is known at this time.

There is no Grant County Public Safety feed due to being offline. We will provide an update if anything changes. – Ed.

New Wildfires Ignite in the NW Region | August 27 2017

August 27, 2017August 27, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SUMMARY POST | There have been several new wildfires that have ignited in Washington State and in order to get information out to you all, we are separating this post for today only. All information from these fires (if applicable starting on Monday, August 28th) will be added to our “NW Active Fires single daily SitRep”.

GARFILED COUNTY (WA)

Hill Fire. In Pomeroy. 100+ acres. Homes threatened. Evacuations in effect. State Mobe approved. SE WA IMT is monitoring natural cover fire. Incident Cooperators include Garfield County Fire District 1 has requested mutual aid from Asotin, Columbia Counties and Walla Walla /Columbia County Fire District #2.

Unofficial word of cars, structures and power infrastructure afire. Fire resources were being staged in parking lots across from Grain Elevators on Main Street in Pomeroy. (about 1700 hours).

GRANT COUNTY (WA)

Unnamed Fire. Grant County Fire District 13 is on-scene of a brush fire incident burning in cut wheat and sagebrush. Located in the area of Rd. B NE and Rd 25 NE, just NE of Soap Lake. Fire pushing NE. Estimated at 350-400 acres. GCFD 5 and 12 responded as Mutual Aid, along with a farmer with a tractor. Fire Officials say that if you feel like you are in danger, to self-evacuate. As of 1830 hours, State Mobe resources had not been requested/approved.

Unnamed Fire. Grant County Fire District 13 is assisting GCFD 7 with a very large wildfire near Rd 23 NE and Rd A (High Hill Road). Started 8/27/2017 around 1700 hours PDT. Dry brush and grass. No homes threatened and no evacuations in effect at the moment.

Image may contain: sky, cloud, mountain and outdoor

Credit: GCFD 13

THURSTON COUNTY (WA)

Rock Candy Fire. Start 8/27/2017. Dispatch time @ 1607 hours. Rock Candy Mtn on the Capitol State Forest. Copter on-scene.

Rock Pit Fire. Start 8/27/2017. WA DNR. Located in the Capitol State Forest. Multiple resources (+ helicopter). Initial call dispatched E262 at 1453 hours. Fire is on Capitol Peak in the Capitol Forest. Grass, light slash. IC arrived at 1614 hours.

SOCIAL MEDIA

More to come as the details are received in.

#MonumentHillFire | Grant County WA | New!

August 16, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Monument Hill is the second highest peak in Beezley Hills at an elevation of 2,882 feet. It is located near Quincy, just South of Ephrata. (Wikipedia)

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Fire crews were dispatched to a brush fire around 2019 hours on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, located on Monument Hill is located near Quincy, Washington. (FireCAD)

EVACUATIONS

Level 3 (LEAVE NOW!) Evacuations were ordered forAdams Rd N, areas of Rd 13NW and Rd J8 NW. (this was approximately around 2100 hours PDT from GCSO)

Image may contain: text

Level 1 (Get Ready) Evacuations for Painted Hills area. For what you need to bring during an evacuation or learn of which areas are in evacuations, check out the Grant County Sheriff Office website here —-> https://www.nixle.us/9JCSD

RESOURCES

Initial resources (BATT-17 BLM-11 BLM E-6695) were originally dispatched. We have heard since the original call time, pages out for mutual aid from Spokane city firefighters and others. (Scanner Feed) Additionally, State fire mobe has been approved as well bringing out additional resources. (WSP PIO)

Press releases are coming out of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) and Washington State Patrol (WSP), as well as Grant County PUD.

SIZE UP

Grant County Sheriff is reporting the brush fire is approximately 500 acres(as of 2300 hours PDT) and is growing quickly. No containment status has been achieved as of yet. Homes and crops are currently being threatened. State Fire Mobe has been approved. (Released around 2225 hours PDT)

#MonumentHillFire night fire operations. Credit: WSP PIO 6, Trooper Brian Moore)

ALERTS

Power Outage – Douglas County PUD stated as of 2200 hours PDT, about 350 residents were affected by the power outage in the Palisades area due to the fire in Grant County. Crews are out and working very hard to restore power as quickly as possible.

Stay Out of the Area –The WA State Patrol reminds everyone to STAY OUT OF THE AREA and not park on the shoulders. Fire crews need the space to work in and with heavy traffic they cannot reach the fire ground. Please help them put this fire out by leaving enough space for emergency vehicles and support personnel access to various roadways.

Evacuation orders/alerts – To receive Nixle alerts (evacuation notices), if you live in Grant County, text your zip code to 888777. You can also follow us on Twitter @GrantCoSheriff #MonumentHillFire (GCSO)

Red Cross Shelter – will be set up for evacuees at midnight tonight. This will be opened up at the Quincy High School in Quincy. (GCSO)

HISTORICAL FIRE INFORMATION

This area is familiar to large wildfires and also previously called the #MonumentHillFire when the last one in July of 2015, caused evacuations in the Baird Springs Road of Rd Q NW, just North of Quincy. Evacuations were ordered on July 1 and listed on July 5, 2015. (News Media)

This what it looked like on July 1, 2015. Fire was out around 1900 hours on July 5, 2015. Over 2,000 acres.

Credit: GCSO.

Here it is on August 16, 2017. Fire started August 16, 2017 and growing. 500 acres and growing.

Credit: WSP PIO 6, Trooper Brian Moore

SOCIAL MEDIA

You can follow us here on our Official Fire Blog, on Twitter @nwfireblog and on our Facebook Page, The NW Fire Blog.

#MonumentHillFire #WAwildfire2017 #WaWILDFIRE #NWFB #GrantCoWAFire

#DodsonRdFire | Washington | Update 2

July 26, 2017July 26, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

DODSON ROAD FIRE (GRANT COUNTY), WASHINGTON

Grant County Fire District #5 resources (Stock Photo)

Incident Summary | The Grant County Sheriff’s Office posted on their Social Media channels that Dodson Road South CLOSED from I-90 to Frenchman Hills Road due to a wildfire in the area around 1921 hours PDT on Wednesday evening.

Resources | Grant County Fire Districts, 3, 5, 10, 11 and 13 on-scene.

Location | The wildfire is on the East side of Dodson, about 4 miles South of I-90. There have been reported access problems due to swamp and marshland, as well as being in a remote area.

Cause | Cause is unknown.

Threats | None.

Size Up | Estimated 10-20 acres have been destroyed.

Social Media | We are using the hashtags #DobsonRdFire #DODSONRDFIRE and #WAwildfire2017

Correction: We inadvertently typed Dobson when it should have been “Dodson”. Thanks for correcting our human-error. – Ed.

#DobsonRdFire | Washington | New!

July 26, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

DOBSON ROAD FIRE (GRANT COUNTY), WASHINGTON

There have been reported access problems due to swamp/marshland and where the fire is located.

Location | The wildfire is on the East side of Dodson, about 4 miles South of I-90.

Threats | There are currently no threats to any structures in the area.

Size Up | There is no word on cause, size of the fire or who or what number of personnel are on the way or on-scene.

Social Media | We are using the hashtags #DobsonRdFire #DODSONRDFIRE and #WAwildfire2017

#BeverlyFire | Washington State | 2

July 14, 2017July 14, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON STATE

Map of Evacuation area (not of the wildfire). Credit: Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Incident Summary

Fire crews were dispatched at 1748 hours on Friday evening (7/14/2017) to a grass fire burning about 10 miles North of Mattawa (Grant County), Washington State. It is also appears to be burning near the town of Beverly since there is a Level 2 Evacuation order in effect.

Size

The fire has consumed 50 acres. Fire crews have reached a 75% containment status.

Resources

Fire resources from 6 local (unknown) Fire Districts and the USFW are assisting. Command is under the Grant County Fire Chief.

Evacuation Alert!

The town of Beverly is currently under a Level 2 evacuation order. Please see the above or you may view information listed on the Grant County Sheriff Office website here –> https://www.nixle.us/9GCX9

Social Media

The hashtags we’re using are #BeverlyFire #GrantCoWAFire #WAwildfire2017

#UpperGooseLakeFire | Washington | 2

July 9, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON STATE

Incident Summary | Fire assets were dispatched at 1527 hours PDT to a wildfire burning in the Upper Goose Lake recreation area is within the boundaries of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge area.

Size Up | It was reported in the initial stages as to the size by law enforcement but WA DNR’s CAD showed the fire had already reached 300 acres. There has been no official word as to what the size or even the cause was with various pressers via Social Media.

Conditions | Firefighters are faced with the area’s landscapes peppered with rugged cliffs, canyons, lakes, and sagebrush grasslands. They are currently focusing on controlling the fire.

Resources | Units T17 R28 S22 were dispatched along with additional resources BATT-804 DIV-802 E-842 E-863. Mutual aid from USFW, Grant and Adam Counties.

Evacuations | Level 3 evacuations are still in force for the Rec area. All guests have left the area. Only fire personnel and law enforcement are still in the area.

Fire Weather | Current weather report as of 1910 hours PDT is partly cloudy with temps of 89*F, winds at 11 mph and RH at 23%.

ABOUT UPPER GOOSE LAKE REC AREA

Photo Credit: CNWR

Upper Goose Lake Rec area is located adjacent to the Western border of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and South of Potholes Reservoir. It consists of channeled scab land created by glacial floodwaters, and basalt outcroppings forming cliffs, mesas, box canyons and potholes. One major canyon is filled with water that has seeped from the Potholes Reservoir north of this unit. Two low rock dams were built-in the 1950’s to create Upper and Lower Goose lakes.

The area has 130.4 acres of lake and is at an elevation of 865 feet. This area is popular for camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.

The Goose Lakes area has a long history of range fires that have nearly burned up all the areas inside the Rec site, causing the area to turn into mostly grasslands.

#UpperGooseLakeFire | Washington | Breaking!

July 9, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON STATE

Incident Summary | A wildfire is burning in the Upper Goose Lake recreation area that is adjacent to the Columbia National Wildlife Reservoir, located in Moses Lake and North of Othello, Washington.

Size Up | Unknown fire size and has been stated to be a huge fire.

Conditions | Firefighters will be faced with the area’s landscapes peppered with rugged cliffs, canyons, lakes, and sagebrush grasslands.

Evacuations | Level 3 evacuation orders were given by the Grant County Sheriff’s

Yellow area indicates Evacuation area size only. Photo Credit: Grant County Sheriff Office

Office around 1630 hours PDT, to leave immediately. This order pertains to only people inside the Recreation area. The Sheriff’s Office stated there is no danger to homes on the outside of the area.

Fire Weather | The current weather report as of 1720 hours are temps of 93*F, RH of 13% and winds out of the W-SW 13 mph. There is currently a RED FLAG WARNING until 2100 hours on Sunday, July 9, 2017.

ABOUT UPPER GOOSE LAKE

Photo Credit: CNWR

The area has 130.4 acres of lake and is at an elevation of 865 feet.

This area is popular for camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.

#DodsonFire | Washington State | New!

July 7, 2017 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Incident Summary | A brush fire ignited by an unknown cause on Friday evening around 1827 hours PDT, prompted local firefighters from the Grant County Fire District #13 and Law Enforcement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office to be dispatched.

Fire Timeline | Upon reaching the scene around 1827 hours PDT, the fire behavior appeared to be extreme with a high rate of speed consuming up to 50 acres of brush and grasses.

Around 1910 hours, a mutual aid request for additional resources was requested through Dispatch. Grant County Fire Districts 5 and 7 responded and arrived on-scene.

Location | The fire was located on Dodson Road and Neva Lake Road in Grant County, Washington State.

Resources | Grant County Fire District #13, Grant County FD #3, 5, 7, Ephrata FD and Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Current Conditions | At 2011, the fire was under control and all crews were in mop-up operations.

Fire Images | Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Washington’s SR 17 Fire – August 2, 2016 – Update 1

August 2, 2016August 2, 2016 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Updated 8/2/2016 2010 Hours PDT

Hello and thank you for following The NW Fire Blog! We are happy you on board as we work to cover all things Fire, including wildfires. Due to the high number of fires around the Country, we will be breaking them down individually starting with the Northwest and working our way around to each State.

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Location – This wildfire is burning along SR 17 (NB) near milepost 60 and is approximately seven (7) miles North of Moses Lake, Washington.

Date/Time Started –The fire began Tuesday, August 2nd at 1500 hours. Officials have not released the cause of the fire.

SR 17 Fire Map (Credit: Grant County Sheriff Office)

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Fire Fuel/Winds – The fire is burning in heavy sage and grass and being driven by N-NE winds up to 24 mph gusts (as of 1500 hours PDT). Weather had picked up a little around 1845 hours.

Temps – Temps at 75*F with 24% humidity and winds WNW at 23 mph but gusting up to 29 mph. The dew point was at 36%.

FIRE BEHAVIOR

Movement of the Fire – The fire has jumped several roadways including SR17 and Rd 10. It was said to be burning parallel to County Rd 10NE.

Current Fire Conditions – As of 1935 hours, reports of the winds decreasing seemed to be good news for all but the reality is the fire is still burning but now under control. It is no longer running/the forward spread has been stopped.

Damage Assessment – Word of several homes and outbuildings lost are now trickling through to the Sheriff’s Office. No number is available at this time, nor does the County have a good estimated number of acres burned.

SIZE

Area Burned – The Sheriff’s Office did not know the size of the fire @ 1500 hours but had said the fire had scorched at least 2.5 miles from the point of origin. Another source, Washington State Emergency Management Agency said there has been between 4,000 and 5,000 acres burned.

EVACUATIONS

Horses/Livestock – Grant County Sheriff’s Office Posse are out in various areas with trailers to help with evacuating large animals. The Sheriff’s Posse will also be available on site to help with horses. Call 9-1-1 to tell them where you are, if you need assistance with getting your animals/livestock out. Tell them where you are located/address.

Areas Evacuated – Level 3. Rd 10 / H NE. Evacuees are being sheltered at the Grant County International airport terminal.

SHELTERS

Red Cross – A shelter has been opened at Grant County Fairgrounds located at 3953 Airway Drive NE in Moses Lake, Washington, where the large animal shelter is also located. This is for overnight accommodations for evacuees.

Grant County International Airport – The airport has a terminal and restaurant available for fire evacuees. This is temporary shelter, no overnight accommodations (per Sheriff Office)

Large Animals – Large animals are also being taken at the Shelter hosted by Grant County Fairgrounds.

TRAFFIC ALERTS

Closures – SR17 in both directions @ Mileposts 60-63 (Between Moses Lake and Ephrata). No ETA on when the roadway will reopen

Avoid Areas – Rd10 between SR17 and Stratford Rd.

RESOURCES

Evacuee Resources/Offers of Assistance – Art Brown/Light of Larson Church. 509.350.3720. Can help at Shelters.

Evacuee Resources/Grant County Animal Outreach – can hold companion animals for residents who need to be evacuated.

Fire Resources/State Mobe – A State Mobe was requested and approved and will be arriving to assist with the fire in a few hours.

SOCIAL MEDIA FRENZY

Horses – Some are recommending that residents release their horses to fend for themselves to save their own families, while others are working tirelessly to help evacuate them to a safe haven.

Ephrata – The fire is not impacting Ephrata but residents in this area are concerned.

Media – PIOs @ Big Bend Community College. 509.760.3713. Call them first. Too dangerous to enter the fire ground.

Evacuations – Some are asking if they need to leave the Desert Oasis Park and how will they be notified. We recommend to continue following our Blog and check back with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page for updates.

REMINDERS

Please stay away from the Fire! Though it is very tempting to stop in the middle of the road and take a photo, think before you drive! Those of us who are actually Fire Photographers know to stay out of the way of 1st Responders, the dangers of being too close to the fire and taking our own personal safety in an account.

The Sheriff Office is warning drivers to stay away from the fire. Too many are putting themselves and 1st responders’ lives in jeopardy to rescue people out of dangerous situations. And, because you can get fined. Don’t be that guy.

No Drones In Fire Zones! Though there have been zero reports of them flying in or near the fire, don’t become the first person to test the system. If you fly, you will force air resources to land putting lives, property and other assets in danger.

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