Several homes lost; Level 3 ‘GO NOW’ evacuations in Grant County for Railroad Fire

At least seven homes have been lost, and Level 3 ‘GO NOW’ evacuations are continuing this morning after the Railroad Fire started up in Grant County late last night.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has been updating residents in the area throughout the night. In an update posted early Thursday morning, deputies said three homes were lost, but confirmed there are no reported injuries or loss of life. Later that same morning, the fire marshal confirmed that seven homes had been lost, with at least one family displaced.

At 1 a.m., just hours after the fire began, the sheriff’s office told residents, “This is a large, wind-driven, fast-moving dangerous fire. If you are a spectator recording video, you are in danger and blocking firefighters. Leave the area now!”

The town of Beverly, all of the town of Schwana, and those along Lower Crab Creek Road were evacuated overnight. As of 11 a.m., firefighting aircraft are making significant progress on the fire along Lower Crab Creek Road near the ORV park. The sheriff’s office confirmed that no homes had been damaged, and the fire size is sitting at roughly 600 acres.

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

Railroad Fire details

Officials said the wildfire first started at approximately 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22.

According to an update at 4:30 a.m. from the sheriff’s office, there were approximately 280 affected households in the fire area.

In a news release sent out at around 5 a.m. Thursday, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office estimated the fire at 750 acres and growing.

“It is burning in grass and sage, and is threatening homes, crops, and Grant County Public Utilities District. Level 1 and Level 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation,” wrote fire officials.

Evacuations and travel

Official notifications (last updated 8 a.m. Thursday)

• Major wildfire with Level 3 Evacuations: Evacuate all of the town of Beverly, all of the town of Schwana, and those along Lower Crab Creek Road up to 5 miles east of SR 243.
• Evacuation shelter at Wahluke High School in Mattawa.
• Travel impacts: SR 243 was closed at around midnight due to fire activity, but has reopened as of 7 a.m.

Public Utilities

Almost 300 customers in Beverly, Schwana and Wanapum Village were without power after the wildfire brought down power lines in the area.

As of 7:20 a.m., Grant PUD crews were staged and waiting for firefighting efforts to allow them to safely go in and start replacing the damaged poles.

The following areas were closed for public access on Thursday: the Overlook, Turbine Park, the Wanapum Visitor’s Center, the Lower Boat Launch, Burkett Lake Recreation Area and Crab Creek Park.

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

Resources

State fire assistance was authorized at 2 a.m. on Thursday, mobilizing state resources to support local firefighters.

These resources began to arrive to relieve local firefighters at around 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Firefighting aircraft will be arriving soon and will be using the Columbia River as a water source. Watercraft on the river are asked to give aircraft priority on the river so they can work safely,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “The fire area is a No Drone Zone. If drones are in the air, firefighting aircraft can’t fly and put out the fire. Keep your drones on the ground. ”

Find the most up-to-date information on the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, updated hourly.