FIRE REPORT: Two fires light up in Spokane County Friday

SPOKANE — Two new wildfires began Friday afternoon in Eastern Washington, according to information released by state and federal authorities.

The South Columbia Basin Fire started Friday at 1:39 p.m. in Spokane County near the towns of Cheney and Tyler. The fire had burned 220 acres and had no containment as of Saturday. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 5 p.m. Friday according to a press release from the State Fire Marshal's Office. There are level two evacuations in effect. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Then, the Upper Cemetery Fire broke out at about 5 p.m. Friday, also in Spokane County near the city of Spokane. The fire had burned 90 acres with no containment as of Saturday. There were level one and two evacuations in effect as of press time.

According to InciWeb, 130 people worked both fires throughout the weekend, utilizing multiple engines and heavy equipment.

These other fires were also burning in Washington on Saturday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center:

•The Big Horn Fire started at about 1 p.m. July 22 near the town of Bickleton in Klickitat County. The fire has grown from about 33,000 acres Thursday to nearly 50,000 acres Saturday. The fire went from 5% contained Thursday to 38% contained according to InciWeb. Evacuation orders for nearby residents have been issued.

•The Black Canyon Fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m. July 22. The fire had burned just less than 10,000 acres with 30% containment by Saturday, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. There are multiple evacuation notices in effect. The estimated containment date is August 1.

• The Bridge Creek Fire ignited on July 19 and is 11 miles north of Keller. As of Thursday, the fire was just less than 4,000 acres according to DNR. The fire was reported as 20% contained as of Saturday morning and nearby roads had been reopened. There are still multiple evacuation orders in effect according to Inciweb, as well as multiple road restrictions.

• The Cougar Creek Fire, discovered on July 15 in the Blue Mountains, about 50 miles east of Walla Walla, was sitting at 13,511 acres by Thursday but had expanded to 14,838 acres by Saturday. It remained at 26% containment Saturday. An evacuation order is in effect in the area and some roads have travel restrictions near the Washington-Oregon border.

• The Davin Road fire started at 8:40 a.m. Sunday, July 21, in Franklin County and was only one acre initially, but quickly grew. It remains at 1,732 acres with no containment as of Saturday according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

• The Easy Fire, discovered July 17 about 58 miles northwest of Omak, remains uncontained and grew to 410 acres by Saturday. On Sunday, SR 20 North Cascades Highway was closed between Granite Creek and Easy Pass trailhead in both directions due to the wildfire. According to officials, the estimated containment date is Sept. 1 due to rough ground and heavy vegetation. More than 100 firefighting personnel are attacking the blaze.

• The Gooseneck Fire started Thursday at 2:37 p.m. in Asotin County according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire grew from 500 acres, located southwest of Lewiston, Thursday to almost 1,600 acres by Friday evening. The fire was contained and considered inactive as of about 5 p.m. Friday.

• The Miners Complex Fires consist of nine wildfires caused by lightning strikes on July 17 and 18 according to the Miners Complex. The fire remains at 500 acres with no containment as of Saturday according to InciWeb. The Miners Complex includes: Miners Fire, Vista Ridge Fire, Dolly Creek Fire, Sulphur Three Fire, Sulphur Four Fire, Sulphur Thirty-Four Fire, Upper Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire, Lower Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire and Plummer Fire. The Miners Complex is burning approximately 21 miles east of Darrington.

•The Owhi Flats Fire, discovered July 17, has 30% containment and has remained at 84 acres as of Saturday. The fire is located seven miles northeast of Nespelem. The fire is north of the Columbia River, east of Swawilla Basin Road and west of Highway 21. The estimated cost to fight the fire so far is $100,000.

• The Pioneer Fire remains at 14% containment and has expanded from 30,352 acres Wednesday to more than 32,000 acres Saturday. Discovered on July 8, initially reported on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan, it quickly spread to the U.S. Forest Service land, including wilderness areas. Multiple evacuation orders are in effect as a result of the fire. The estimated containment date is Aug. 31, 2024.

•The Retreat Fire, also listed as the Rimrock Fire, started Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. and rapidly grew from 8,000 acres Thursday to more than 18,000 acres by Saturday with no containment. It is burning in heavy timber and grass-fueled areas. There are level two and level three evacuations in effect nearby.

• The Shoofly Fire in the Cascades, about 45 miles northwest of Wenatchee, remained 60% contained Saturday and has burned 104 acres. The fire has been active since July 8.

• The Swawilla Fire, ignited by lightning July 27, is located 11 miles east of Grand Coulee and has grown from about 17,400 acres on Thursday to nearly 41,000 acres by Saturday. The fire remains uncontained according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The Keller Ferry will open temporarily to help evacuate the town of Keller. Roads have been closed near the fire and more may be closed as the fire grows. Keller is now at a level three evacuation as of Thursday. The estimated containment date is Aug. 15, 2024.

•The White Swan Fire started at about 5 p.m. Monday near the Yakama Forest Products log yard. The fire has an unknown amount of acres and 75% contained as of Saturday according to NICF.

Grant County’s wildfire danger continues to be very high. The Grant County Sheriff’s office has asked area residents to be careful with anything that could cause a wildfire.

Other fires reported throughout the state have burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. The majority are less than 1 acre.

Air quality was good Saturday for the Columbia Basin, according to the website AirNow, which is operated by a consortium of government agencies.