The State of Washington

[NJFFSA16]

July 26th

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - Firefighters backed by two helicopters
made a stand Tuesday against a flareup in a 2,000-acre wildfire,
keeping the flames from reaching nearby wheat fields, a fire
spokesman said.
Winds had fanned some hot spots within a burned-over area.
"The fire made it to the top of the hill, onto the plateau, but
two copters and two strike teams were there to put it out," said
State Patrol Trooper Greg Pressel, a spokesman for the state fire
marshal's office.
"It did not reach the wheat fields on top of the plateau."
About 30 homes had been on evacuation notice earlier in the day
but were no longer considered threatened late Tuesday, he said.
Elsewhere in Eastern Washington, two other wildfires have been
contained.
The Wenatchee-area fire, burning in grass and sage about five
miles east of this central Washington city, was considered about 10
percent contained late Tuesday, with bulldozers working to carve a
firebreak around it. Water has been sprayed around the edges of the
fire, Pressel said.
Crews were also patrolling the fire boundaries Tuesday night.
If weather conditions are favorable, full containment could be
possible by late Wednesday, Pressel said.
Temperatures in the 90s were forecast, with slight winds.
In addition to local crews, about 100 firefighters from eight
counties were sent to the fire, as well as 20 engines, five water
tenders, the two helicopters and two bulldozers.
The cause of the fire, first reported at 5 p.m. Monday, was
under investigation, Pressel said.
No homes were threatened in earlier blazes in Klickitat and
Benton counties, nor were injuries reported in any of the fires.
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for
Wednesday through Thursday evening for Klickitat, Benton, Franklin,
Grant, Columbia and Walla Walla counties.
Elsewhere, about 600 firefighters contained a wildfire Tuesday
on more than 6,000 acres in Klickitat County, mostly in a steep
draw near Washington 14 about four miles north of Roosevelt and
about 30 miles east of Goldendale.
Authorities said that fire was started by a wheat harvesting
combine.
A fire that began Monday afternoon on a farm in Benton County
blackened 3,500 acres before being contained, said Bob Gear, fire
chief for County Fire District No. 1.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

July 27th

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - Firefighters hoped to have a wildfire
that had threatened homes and wheat fields fully contained by
Thursday morning, a spokesman said.
The 2,000-acre wildfire was about 80 percent contained Wednesday
evening, said State Patrol Trooper Greg Pressel, a spokesman for
the state fire marshal's office. More than 100 firefighters from
eight Washington counties were assigned to the blaze about five
miles east of Wenatchee in central Washington.
At one point, a separate fire started to the north of the Badger
Road fire, but the 50-acre blaze burned into the Badger Road fire
and doused itself.
The cause of the original fire, first reported at 5 p.m. Monday,
remained under investigation, Pressel said.
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch through
Thursday evening for Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Grant, Columbia
and Walla Walla counties. No new fires were reported in Washington
on Wednesday, according to the Northwest Interagency Incident
Coordination Center in Portland, Ore.
A fire burning in a steep draw near Washington 14 about four
miles north of Roosevelt and 30 miles east of Goldendale remained
at 5,400 acres on Wednesday. About 600 firefighters contained that
wildfire Tuesday.
Authorities said that fire was started by a wheat harvesting
combine.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

July 31st

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - A wildfire burning close to scores of
homes near Lake Wenatchee grew to more than 500 acres Sunday,
officials said.
The fire was burning on the southern face of Dirtyface Mountain
in Chelan County, U.S. Forest Service and State Patrol officials
said.
The blaze started late Saturday evening on private land before
spreading to state-protected land and finally parts of the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Forest Service spokeswoman
Robin DeMario said.
The patrol said there were about 140 homes in the area, along
the Lake Wenatchee Highway. The structures were down the mountain
from the fire's front and could be threatened if the fire spreads
toward the highway, DeMario said.
"If the fire remains midslope and goes up to the top of the
slope, there are no homes in that area," DeMario said.
The blaze was on extremely steep terrain, in timber, grass and
brush. Firefighters were using hiking trails to help build fire
lines Sunday, and helicopters and air tankers were dropping water
and retardant on the scene, DeMario said.
No evacuations were ordered Sunday. Officials were expecting
engines aimed at protecting the structures to begin arriving
Monday.
More than 100 people were working on the fire Sunday, and
officials expected about 150 to arrive through Monday.
A combined state and federal team was set to take over
management of the fire Monday morning, DeMario said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV 07-31-05 2226EDT

[NJFFSA16]

August 1st

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - A wildfire believed to have started in a
burning mobile home before igniting nearby brush had grown to more
than 960 acres by Monday evening and threatened more than 140
homes, fire officials said.
The fire was burning on the southern face of Dirtyface Mountain
in Chelan County. Fire officials ordered the evacuation of 75 homes
in the Whispering Pines subdivision north of Highway 207, the Lake
Wenatchee Highway, after the fire burned to within 100 yards of
some homes.
Another 70 scattered homes in the area remained under notice
they might have to evacuate as well, Forest Service spokeswoman
Robin DeMario said. A bulldozer line had been built around the
subdivision and sprinklers were in place to protect against flying
embers.
The fire, believed to have started Saturday evening, was
reported 10 percent contained Monday evening, according to the
Central Washington Area Incident Management Team.
Fire officials met Monday night with about 150 residents at a
public meeting.
"They had lots of good questions. I think we answered a lot of
community concerns," said Roland Emetaz, a spokesman for the
incident management team.
He had no estimate on when the fire might be fully contained but
said Monday's cooler weather would be replaced by warmer
temperatures and lower humidity Tuesday.
"That's the downside," he said, adding that on the plus side,
winds were expected to decrease to 5-10 mph and expected to be
blowing upslope, away from most homes.
Elsewhere in northcentral Washington, a wildfire about 12 miles
northwest of Stehekin, in North Cascades National Park, had grown
to 109 acres by Monday evening.
Firefighters were trying to stop that fire from spreading toward
the lower Stehekin Valley, where it could threaten homes, park
officials said.
No injuries were reported in either fire.
In the Dirtyface fire, the American Red Cross has established a
shelter for evacuated residents at the Icicle River Middle School
in Leavenworth.
The blaze was believed to have started in a mobile home before
spreading to state-protected land and parts of the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, DeMario said. The fire was
burning grass, brush and timber in extremely steep terrain.
Nothing was left of the mobile home Monday. Fire officials said
the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Firefighters were using hiking trails to help build fire lines,
and helicopters and air tankers were dropping water and retardant,
DeMario said.
As many as 400 firefighters were assigned to the fire. A
combined state and federal team took over management of the fire on
Monday, DeMario said.
No structures had been damaged, aside from the original mobile
home.
A park ranger spotted the North Cascades fire on Sunday, and
eight smokejumpers from Winthrop flew to the scene. About 65
firefighters were assigned to the fire by Monday evening, digging
lines, and two helicopters were dropping water.
Since the fire started near a trail, officials suspected it was
caused by a person.
The Pacific Crest Trail remained open, although hikers were
advised to reroute via the Rainbow Creek and McAlester Creek
trails.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Aug 2nd

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) - Hundreds of firefighters continued to
battle a blaze near Lake Wenatchee on Tuesday, as Gov. Christine
Gregoire flew over the fire by helicopter to assess the damage.
The fire was burning on the south slope of Dirtyface Mountain in
Chelan County, about 10 miles northeast of Stevens Pass and 18
miles northwest of Leavenworth. The blaze had burned nearly 1,000
acres and was 20 percent contained by Tuesday night, said Pam
Novitzky, a spokeswoman at the Dirtyface fire camp.
With the fire threat easing, residents of 75 homes in the
Whispering Pines subdivision north of Highway 207, the Lake
Wenatchee Highway, will be allowed to return to their homes
Wednesday, she said. Fire officials ordered the evacuation Monday
after the fire burned to within 100 yards of some homes.
Residents of another 70 scattered homes in the area remained
under notice they might have to evacuate. The American Red Cross
had established a shelter for evacuated residents at the Icicle
River Middle School in Leavenworth.
No injuries have been reported.
After a brief cooling period Monday, the weather has gotten
warmer, with high temperatures forecast to possibly hit 100 on
Thursday, Novitzky said.
Still, "in general people feel very good about what they were
able to get done today," she said, although there is "still a lot
of work to do."
Earlier Tuesday, Roland Emetaz with the Central Washington Area
Incident Management Team said winds had been blowing upslope, away
from nearby homes.
The fire was listed as the top priority Tuesday for firefighting
resources nationally. About 350 firefighters already were assigned
to the fire, and 300 more were on their way. Three heavy
helicopters were dropping retardant and four smaller helicopters
were dropping water.
Firefighters were hopeful the fire could be contained in the
next 24 to 48 hours, Gregoire said in a telephone interview from
fire camp Tuesday afternoon after meeting with fire officials.
Elsewhere in northcentral Washington, the Shady wildfire about
12 miles northwest of Stehekin in North Cascades National Park
remained at 109 acres and was reported 50 percent contained
Tuesday, said fire spokesman Timothy Manns.
About 85 firefighters were assigned to that blaze, with another
20 expected Wednesday, Manns said.
Officials suspected that fire was caused by a person.
Gregoire expressed concern that severe drought conditions in
central Washington could spell trouble for the rest of the summer.
During a visit to Wenatchee last week, Gregoire noted that
Wenatchee River levels were just 800 cubic feet per second. The
river would normally be at 3,000 feet per second at this point of
the summer, she said.
"We're where we would normally be at the end of August and it's
just the start," Gregoire said. "I think August will be a tough
month for us."
The Dirtyface fire started Saturday, apparently in a mobile
home, before spreading to nearby brush on state-protected land and
parts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, said Robin
DeMario, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.
Nothing remained of the mobile home, though no other structures
have burned in the blaze.
"The best thing that's happened here, frankly, is the local
folks got on it immediately," Gregoire said. "The fact that it's
grown as big as it has, it would be certainly worse if not for the
immediate actions of firefighters here."

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 3rd

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) - Hundreds of firefighters battling a
blaze that has scorched nearly 1,000 acres near here continue to
make progress in the face of increasingly hot weather.
The Dirtyface fire, which forced residents of 75 homes near Lake
Wenatchee to evacuate earlier this week, was 30 percent contained
late Wednesday. The evacuated residents were allowed to return home
Wednesday morning, fire spokeswoman Pam Novitzky said.
About 300 firefighters, including some from as far away as
Tennessee, were battling the fire, she said, adding temperatures as
high as 100 were forecast in the area.
Elsewhere in Washington, residents of nine homes near Elk
Heights west of Ellensburg evacuated briefly on Wednesday because
of a wildfire there.
The fire, which started Wednesday afternoon and quickly scorched
about 80 acres, burned through brush and timber about 15 miles west
of Ellensburg on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains.
Some of the homes were the same ones evacuated last summer due
to a wildfire started by an arsonist. That fire burned three homes
and forced the evacuation of hundreds.
Those evacuated in the Ellensburg-area fire were allowed to
return home late Wednesday, KOMO-TV in Seattle reported.
The fire was believed to have started accidentally in a backyard
firepit, said Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers said.
The fire burned close to Interstate 90. No injuries were
reported and no buildings were lost, Myers said.
The Dirtyface fire continued to burn on the south slope of
Dirtyface Mountain in Chelan County, about 10 miles northeast of
Stevens Pass and 18 miles northwest of Leavenworth.
The fire started Saturday, apparently in a mobile home, before
spreading to nearby brush on state-protected land and parts of the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. No injuries were reported, and
no additional homes had burned.
A new fire Wednesday in northcentral Washington forced
intermittent closure of the North Cascades Highway in the Ross Lake
National Recreation Area to allow helicopters to make water drops.
That fire, reported by a National Park Service volunteer, was
estimated at about seven acres and was moving up the slope of Davis
Peak. When the fire moved beneath a Seattle City Light power line
at the base of the mountain, the utility de-energized the line to
permit water drops.
The Shady wildfire about 12 miles northwest of Stehekin in North
Cascades National Park remained at 109 acres and was reported 65
percent contained Wednesday, park officials said in a news release.
Due to the increasing wildfire danger, the Forest Service banned
campfires on national forest lands in Kittitas and Yakima counties,
beginning Thursday. In Chelan and Okanogan counties, campfires will
be limited only to existing fire rings in designated campgrounds.
The Olympic National Park also banned open fires in the
wilderness backcountry, starting Thursday. Fires will be permitted
only at established campgrounds.
The state already had banned campfires on state land due to
wildfire dangers.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 7th

POMEROY, Washington (AP) - Residents of at least 150 homes in
southeastern Washington were forced to evacuate as a fire that had
charred as much as 27,000 acres (10,800 hectares) moved north out
of the Umatilla National Forest onto private land.
Farmers beyond the flames were plowing up broad swaths of earth
through fields of wheat and other crops, trying to create breaks to
save this year's harvest, said Marc Hollen, spokesman for the
Northwest Fire Coordination Center in Portland, Oregon.
The leading edge of the fire, which had covered just 150 acres
(60 hectares) on Saturday morning, was about 10 miles (16
kilometers) south of this rural community, authorities said Sunday.
"At the moment it's zero percent contained, burning vigorously
in timber, grass and brush," said John Townsley, also of the
Northwest Fire Coordination Center.
A thick layer of smoke over the region grounded water tankers
and helicopters for much of the day. There were no reports of
injuries, but three structures have burned, officials said. It
could not be immediately determined whether the structures were
houses or sheds.
The cause of the fire was not yet known. No lightning strikes
were reported in the area Friday, when it started in tinder-dry
conditions.
In central Washington, a 1,075-acre (430-hectare) wildfire near
Lake Wenatchee that had threatened 140 homes was 50 percent
contained, said Patrick Lonergan, spokesman for the Central
Washington Area Incident Management Team. He said he expected that
fire to be fully contained by Wednesday.
In Montana, officials have reopened a 90-mile (145-kilometer)
section of a major highway, Interstate 90, that was shut down
Friday night because of wildfires in the area.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 8th morning update

POMEROY, Wash. (AP) - Wildfire managers around the state are
looking for ways to help the School fire near here, which has grown
to some 32,000 acres, forced the evacuation of about 175 homes and
burned about three dozen buildings.
"All of the fires are starting to look at what their resources
are and how they can help out," said spokesman John Townsley at
the Northwest Fire Coordination Center in Portland, Ore.
Firefighters were expecting cooler, wetter weather in the next
few days as they attempt to contain the volatile fire's advance, he
said.
Farmers beyond the flames were plowing up broad swaths of earth
through fields of wheat and other crops, trying to create fire
breaks and save this year's harvest.
The fire covered about 150 acres Saturday morning, but flames
were moving fast through tinder-dry country. Smoke was making it
hard for fire managers to see the fire's perimeter.
The smoke also grounded water tankers and helicopters for much
of Sunday, and made it difficult to find burned structures.
Officials counted 35 torched buildings by Sunday evening, but
acknowledged that more may have been consumed.
"Right now there is so much smoke that it's difficult to see
very well, so unless a person knew the ground ... it might be easy
to miss," Townsley said.
There were no reports of injuries. It could not be immediately
determined whether the structures that burned were homes, sheds or
other buildings, Townsley said.
Towers of smoke indicated the fire was generating its own
weather, sending heavy drafts skyward that could also shoot burning
debris ahead of the front and push the blaze rapidly ahead,
Townsley said.
"It starts a sort of perpetual motion machine that just keeps
the fire moving and going," he said.
"The bigger the column, the more extreme the winds" inside the
blaze, he said, noting the smoke was visible in satellite photos of
the area.
Some 600 people were working the fire, along with about 75
engines.
Gov. Christine Gregoire accompanied State Patrol Chief John
Batiste on a flight to the area Sunday evening to assess the fire,
spokeswoman Althea Cawley-Murphree said.
Officials are not sure how the blaze began Friday, but managers
were sure it was not sparked by a lightning strike, Townsley said.
"We could easily see more of this if people aren't careful,"
Townsley said.
Aid also has been requested from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency "because of the threat to residences and
homes," he said. The affected homes are apparently scattered,
likely in drainages, he added. He said primary and recreational
homes probably were affected.
While other fires were burning around the state, "I think the
School fire is the dragon on the block right now," Townsley said
The fire is feeding on a variety of fuel types, Townsley said:
forest, brush, grass and some crop lands. Much of the fire was in
the Umatilla National Forest, but wind appeared to push the fire to
the north and east Sunday.
The fire burned into the Tuncannon River Canyon and jumped the
waterway as it roared north and east. Three campgrounds - Boundary,
Tuncannon and Alder Thicket - were evacuated.
Another new blaze, the Burnt Bread fire, had destroyed one barn
and covered about 1,300 acres in sparsely populated north-central
Washington, about 30 miles south of the U.S.-Canadian border,
Townsley said.
About 40 firefighters were assigned to that blaze, working with
two helicopters and 10 engines. Crews built a bulldozer line and
appeared to make good progress, but the fire could get more
dangerous if wind pushes it into forest land, Townsley said.
Updates on the state's other major fires:
-The Dirtyface fire near Lake Wenatchee, about 18 miles
northwest of Leavenworth, was reported 60 percent contained at
1,100 acres. About 100 homes had been evacuated and other area
residents were advised to be prepared for evacuation as hot, dry
weather continued. There were more than 650 firefighters at the
scene, working with trucks and helicopters to douse the fire and
strengthening fire lines near the Whispering Pines subdivision.
Fire crews hoped to have full containment by Wednesday.
-The Lick Creek fire near Cle Elum had charred about 670 acres
and was considered 20 percent contained. Residents of 30 homes on
the north fork of the Teanaway Creek were evacuated. About 490
firefighters were on it, and found that relatively wet grasslands
were helping containment efforts, Townsley said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 9th evening update

POMEROY, Wash. (AP) - Firefighters battling a 41,000-acre
wildfire in southeastern Washington said they had established good
lines around three sides of it and were working to hold their gains
against the wind.
The fire was moving more slowly Tuesday, although humidity
remained low and temperatures were in the mid-90s, said Earl
Bassett, a fire crew spokesman. Officials said they had the fire
about 35 percent contained.
More than 1,600 firefighters were working on the wildfire, which
has destroyed more than 100 residences over the weekend. Officials
said the structures included hunting cabins, vacation homes and
pads for recreational vehicles.
The fire, which started Friday, continued to burn into rougher
terrain in the Umatilla National Forest.
Elsewhere, nearly 850 people were fighting wildfires burning
along Interstate 90 in western Montana near the Idaho border that
had grown to 4,300 acres.
An air tanker was assigned to the Montana fires to help protect
a major Bonneville Power Administration line that supplies
electricity to the Pacific Northwest.
So far this year, wildfires have charred 5.1 million acres
nationwide, compared to 5.6 million acres at the same time last
year.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 10th

POMEROY, Wash. (AP) - Firefighters made slow, steady progress
Wednesday on a massive southeastern Washington wildfire that has
burned more than 100 cabins while a new fire in northeast
Washington prompted the evacuation of a handful of homes.
Elsewhere in the eastern part of the state, lightning caused
several new wildfires.
A new 500-acre fire northeast of Davenport threatened six homes,
which were evacuated, said Steve Harris, a state Department of
Natural Resources spokesman. The cause of that fire, which started
Wednesday, was not immediately known. Davenport is located west of
Spokane.
About 1,400 firefighters and support personnel were assigned to
the School fire near Pomeroy. It stood at 42,000 acres Wednesday
and was 40 percent contained, fire spokesman Greg Smith said.
Crews continued to mop up areas east, north and west of the
fire, and were working to protect structures to the south in the
Umatilla National Forest.
"We feel like we accomplished a lot today," Smith said.
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., attended a Wednesday night
public meeting in Pomeroy that fire officials organized to answer
questions and outline firefighting plans, Smith said. It was the
third such meeting this week.
Lightning was a problem in northcentral Washington, where at
least two new fires were started by a storm that blew through the
region Tuesday night.
More than 230 lightning strikes hit the Okanogan Valley, said
Mark Pepin, fire spokesman for the Okanogan National Forest. The
storm started one blaze in the Okanogan National Forest, called the
Middle Fork fire.
Eight smoke jumpers were dropped to fight the fire, which stood
at about 30 acres. More firefighters were expected to report to the
fire Wednesday.
Engines from the Burnt Bread fire, 21 miles southeast of
Tonasket, were sent to help with the initial attack on another
lightning-caused fire west of town, said fire spokeswoman Cindy
Reichelt. Crews were working to build a line around the 40-acre
fire Wednesday.
State Department of Natural Resources dispatcher Lynn Kenworthy
said fire officials expected to discover other new fires from the
storm.
About 275 people still were assigned to the Burnt Bread fire,
which was 75 percent contained Wednesday at about 1,352 acres. The
cause was under investigation.
The 1,150-acre Dirty Face Fire, 18 miles northwest of
Leavenworth, was 70 percent contained, said spokesman Patrick
Lonergan. About 480 firefighters were assigned to the fire.
The 735-acre Lick Creek fire near Cle Elum was estimated at
about 75 percent containment with full containment expected by the
weekend. The fire was believed to have been caused by logging
equipment that caught fire Aug. 4.
No fire-related injuries were reported in the state Wednesday.
In southcentral Washington, crews battled a 400-acre fire about
20 miles northeast of Richland. The McClane fire began Tuesday when
agricultural burning spread to wildlands. The fire, which had
burned onto the Hanford Reach National Monument in some marshy
areas off the Columbia River, was about 40 percent contained
Wednesday, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination
Center.
The cause of the School fire near Pomeroy remained under
investigation Wednesday. About 100 homes remained evacuated, but
fire officials could not say how many of those homes were full-time
residences or seasonal cabins.
Garfield County officials estimated that more than 100
residences burned in the fire last weekend, mostly hunting cabins,
vacation homes or pads for recreational vehicles.
Fire crew figures for residences burned have been lower than the
county's figures but Smith said Wednesday evening his records now
show 49 residences destroyed and another 38 outbuildings burned -
for a total of 87 buildings - with more areas still to be checked.
Gov. Christine Gregoire urged residents to be careful when
returning to fire-damaged structures.
"I know everyone is anxious to return home so they can
determine the extent of the damage," Gregoire said in a news
release. "Protecting lives and communities is my top priority, and
I urge everyone to use extra caution before entering structures
damaged by fire."

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 15th

POMEROY, Wash. (AP) - Fire crews had to contend with summer heat
and rough terrain to encircle a 49,000-acre wildfire, the largest
in the Lower 48 states.
The fire in southeastern Washington has destroyed more than 100
homes and more than 100 outbuildings about 15 miles south of
Pomeroy. It was second in size only to an 82,000-acre blaze in
Alaska.
Fire officials estimated the blaze was 65 percent contained
Monday but could not say when it might be brought under control.
"We have two miles of line left to build but those are a couple
of rugged miles," said spokesman Julian Rhinehart.
A break in the weather could come Wednesday, when a low-pressure
system is expected to bring rain, though lightning was also
possible, he said.
In western Montana, crews fighting an 11,000-acre blaze near
Alberton were helped by cool, moist weather. That fire, which began
as two blazes along Interstate 90, was 70 percent contained Monday,
with full containment possible by Thursday.
Authorities said they were going to interview a man who was seen
stopped along I-90 at the time the fire started, possibly with
vehicle problems. Officials believe the blazes were sparked by a
malfunctioning vehicle or arson.
Forest Service spokeswoman Paula Nelson said the man was not
considered a suspect.
"We want to ask him what he saw or knows," Nelson said. "Did
he see a trailer going by dragging anything? Any suspicious people?
He might not know anything at all."
The National Interagency Fire Center said 28 large fires
totaling 290,000 acres were active Monday in Alaska, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and
Washington. So far this year, wildfires have charred 5.89 million
acres nationwide, compared with 5.95 million acres at the same time
last year.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 16th

POMEROY, Wash. (AP) - Fire crews continued to mop up and check
for hot spots on a 49,000-acre fire that burned more than 200
structures in southeastern Washington.
The School fire remained at 75 percent containment Tuesday.
Firefighters had not yet estimated a date for full containment,
said Barrie McVey, fire spokeswoman.
More than 1,300 firefighters were still assigned to the blaze,
using infrared equipment to check for hot spots and building a
300-foot line around structures for protection, McVey said.
"Things are going well. We've got the winds that are going to
again be influenced by the terrain. We're working on tying in the
remaining fire line and mop up is in heavy use," McVey said.
The fire started Aug. 5. Cause was under investigation.
More than 200 structures - 109 residences and 106 outbuildings -
were destroyed by the fire. Residents of more than 100 additional
houses and seasonal cabins remained evacuated Tuesday, though McVey
said fire crews were closer to preparing a plan for allowing
residents to return home.
Elsewhere, fire crews declared the Harker Canyon fire west of
Spokane fully contained Monday morning. The fire, about nine miles
west of Davenport and 150 miles north of the School fire, had
burned 1,566 acres and was the only other large fire remaining in
Washington state.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Sept 8th

Homes evacuated, structure burns in Okanogan County wildfire
PATEROS, Wash. (AP) - A fast-moving wildfire in northcentral
Washington forced the evacuation of six homes Thursday evening,
threatened 10 more and burned one building, the Okanogan County
emergency manager said.
The wildland grass and tree fire about seven miles northwest of
here started about 4 p.m. Thursday and was estimated at 600 acres
by late Thursday night, Scott Miller said.
Miller said one structure had been destroyed, adding he believed
it was some type of residence. It was not occupied.
No injuries were reported in the Squaw Creek fire.
About 150 local firefighters were fighting the blaze and state
fire assistance was authorized Thursday night by State Patrol Chief
John Batiste. The state was sending 45 firefighters, 20 engines and
four water tenders.
In addition to the six homes under mandatory evacuation,
residents of another 10 homes were warned that they might have to
leave, Miller said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, he said.
A section of State Highway 153 in the area was closed Thursday
night, Miller said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Washington 2006

WINTHROP, Wash. (AP) - Soldiers from Fort Lewis were receiving
additional training Tuesday before being sent to the front lines of
two fires that have blackened more than 140 square miles in north
central Washington state.
The 550 U.S. Army troops from Task Force Blaze, commanded by Lt.
Colonel Ricky Love, arrived in the area late Monday and were to
receive an additional two days of training before joining line
operations on Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service said.
The Tripod Complex of fires between Winthrop and Conconully grew
to nearly 90,000 acres Monday.
The troops received basic fire training at Fort Lewis and will
be assigned to 20-person crews to mop-up, build fire lines and
patrol for hotspots.
"We appreciate the military's approval of this request,
considering their other current taskings," said Karyn Wood, a
spokeswoman at the National Interagency Fire Center at Boise,
Idaho. "Adding 25 fresh crews to the mix of resources will really
help us make progress on the Tripod Complex."
A shortage of local firefighting crews and unfavorable weather
forecasts prompted the fire center in Boise to request help last
week. Soldiers are expected be deployed for about two months, said
Army Maj. Cathy Wilkinson, a 1st Corps plans and operations
officer.
By Tuesday morning, crews had dug lines around 25 percent of the
Tripod and Spur Peak fires, which officials said had not merged, as
they originally estimated earlier this month.
The fires are in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest,
with the northeast corner spread in the Loomis State Forest.
Mike Ferris, spokesman for the Pacific Northwest Incident
Management Team, said the south part of the fire that had been
threatening Winthrop was secure.
There are more than 2,330 firefighters assigned to the blazes
caused by July lightning strikes.
In central Washington, the Flick Creek fire near Stehekin on
Lake Chelan was 50 percent trailed Tuesday at about 4,350 acres, or
about 6.7 square miles. Almost two dozen firefighters were on the
scene.
Crews were managing the 4,523-acre Tinpan fire along the Entiat
River trail as a wildland-use fire, meaning it will be allowed to
burn naturally unless it threatens to run outside preset
boundaries.
The fire has burned 40 miles northwest of the town of Entiat in
the Glacier Peak Wilderness. About 170 personnel were assigned to
the fire.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

August 16th

WINTHROP, Wash. (AP) - Cooler temperatures and rising humidity
on Wednesday helped dampen two major wildfires being fought in
northcentral Washington state.
The Tripod Complex of fires between Winthrop and Conconully had
blackened nearly 95,000 acres, or more than 148 square miles of the
Wenatchee and Okanogan National Forests. Nearly 3,000 firefighters,
including 550 U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Lewis near Tacoma, were
assigned to the 41,938-acre Tripod Fire and the 52,900-acre Spur
Peak Fire.
Firefighters reported more smoke from previously unburned
islands of fuel now burning within the fire perimeter, but they did
not believe the fire had grown, said Ron DeHart, spokesman for the
Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.
"There also are possibly some areas near our containment lines
that have flared up," DeHart said. "We don't think we're seeing
any expansion or growth. There may be some, we just don't know
yet."
The fire was 25 percent contained.
On Wednesday, crews lit "burnout" fires near Ramsey Peak,
South Twentymile Peak, and in the Bromas Creek areas to burn fuel
between the main fire and fire lines, Forest Service spokeswoman
Deborah L. Kelly said.
Fort Lewis soldiers continued to train in wildland fire
suppression techniques on Wednesday and were expected to be sent to
fire lines on Thursday.
The fires were sparked by lightning in July.
The 4,523-acre Tinpan fire along the Entiat River trail in the
Glacier Peak Wilderness continued to be managed as a wildland-use
fire, meaning it will be allowed to burn naturally unless it
threatens to run outside preset boundaries.
Elsewhere, the Flick Creek fire near Stehekin along Lake Chelan
had blackened about 4,380 acres, or about 6.7 square miles. About
two dozen firefighters were digging trail around the blaze. The
fire was 50 percent contained.
About two weeks ago, the fire nearly forced the evacuation of
Stehekin, which is only reachable by boat, floatplane, horse or on
foot. The isolated community is the only town in Washington state
that sits outside a fire protection district.
Gov. Chris Gregoire visited residents to urge them to create a
district, saying the state can't help them during wildland fire
emergencies unless they are in a fire district. Residents now have
begun circulating a petition to form such a district. Chelan County
commissioners set a Sept. 12 hearing to establish the boundaries,
set a proposed levy rate and pick an election date.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)