Grant County wildfire half contained, up to over 18,000 acres

A massive fire in Grant County tripled is now 50 percent contained, spanning over 18,000 acres.

Western Washington braces for tough year of wildfires

After initially estimating over 18,000 acres of coverage for what’s being called the “243 Fire,” officials adjusted that to 12,279 acres early Thursday morning. That number was again readjusted back to the 18,000-acre total.

Fire lines are now holding, and responders hope to have it contained within the next 72 hours.

The state has deployed two helicopters, two small planes, 20 firefighters, and two strike teams of engines to tackle the blaze. The state fire marshal’s office has approved mobilized units to help, with around 400 personnel on hand.

Todd Welker with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources notes that the Grant County fire is a grassland fire, which is different than forest fires. They are common in the Columbia Basin this time of year, when grass dries out. The fires burn very fast in these conditions, especially with wind helping.

“Typically, our only tactic is to hit it on the sides and try to pinch the fire off as the wind dies down,” Welker said. “These are typically two- to three-day episodes. When the wind dies down we usually catch those, put the fire out and go home.”

Grant County fire evacuations

The fire started Monday night in Wanapum Village, with 30-mile-per-hour winds pushing the blaze southeast. Several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. No in juries have been reported. No homes have been damaged so far.

The Grant County fire is the first such incident when the sheriff’s office sent emergency notices out in Spanish as well as English. The sheriff’s office stated on its Facebook page: “We do it to warn and help protect everyone who’s in harm’s way. It’s simply the right thing to do.”

This led to evacuation calls Tuesday:

• A Level 3 evacuation notice was issued Tuesday for the Smyrna Canyon along Lower Crab Creek Road, about five miles south of Royal City. All residents in the area were advised to leave their homes immediately. An estimated 25 homes are at risk from the fire.
• A Level 3 notice was lifted near Beverly Burke Road Tuesday. All homes are intact after evacuees stayed with friends and families overnight after they were forced to evacuate.
• A Level 2 evacuation notice is still in place for several small communities nearby. Residents don’t have to leave, but are asked to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
• Grant County Fairgrounds is available to shelter large animals. The shelter can accommodate up to 300 horses, some pigs, sheep, and a small number of cattle. Bedding and water is available on site, but no feed.

Officials hope to reduce these evacuation notices sometime Thursday morning, at which time people will be allowed to return to their homes.

According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, deputies have been going door-to-door to warn residents since Monday. An evacuation shelter opened at noon Tuesday at Royal City Intermediate School.

The fire has threatened roughly 100 homes, although just one outbuilding, a garage, was destroyed.

The fire has proven tough to fight for a variety of reasons.

“It’s a steep terrain, it’s hard to battle, and then that wind was kicking up, so it has been pretty difficult,” Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Denise McInturff told KIRO Radio.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KIRO Radio Staff and KIRO 7 TV contributed to this report

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