FIRE REPORT: Two fires in Grant Co., one in Adams

LAKE MOSES — A fire broke out in Adams County shortly after noon Tuesday. The fire stretched across a five-mile stretch of land and closed at least one lane of I-90, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Two older, unoccupied structures were lost to the fire, according to ACSO.

The fire was on Schrag Road and State Route 21, 10 miles outside of Ritzville, so SR21 was closed in both directions when the fire broke out. The fire was closer to the eastbound lane of I-90, so the lane was closed around 1:40 p.m., according to the Washington Department of Transportation. The roads reopened around 3:30 p.m. after the fire was under control

ASCO believes the fire was started by a farmer mowing.

Adams County officials, the Adams County Fire Department, the Grant County Fire Department, four Washington State Police officers and WSDOT responded to the fire.

An hour after the Adams County fire started, a 23-acre fire broke out in Grant County. The Vernita fire broke out around 1:10 p.m. Tuesday. No further information on the fire was available at press time.

Just before 4 p.m., another fire broke out in Grant County, near Royal City on Lower Crab Creek Road southwest and Road E southwest. The Lower Crab Fire was 5 acres in size as of 6 p.m. Tuesday and was not yet under control. No further information about the fire was available at press time.

Biggest fires in Washington:

Retreat Fire – largest fire in Washington. 45,601 acres. 85% contained. Started July 14 at 4:00 p.m. Located approximately 14 miles southeast of Naches. 228 people.

Pioneer Fire – second largest wildfire in Washington. 38,735 acres. 23% contained. Started around 1 p.m. June 8. Located 10 miles southeast of Stehekin. 414 firefighters.

Cougar Creek Fire – third largest fire in Washington. 24,091 acres. 80% contained. Started July 15 at 8:00 p.m. Located south of Walla Walla. 226 firefighters.

Other fires:

Easy Fire – 2,130 acres. 36% containment. Started 8:00 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along the North Cascades Scenic Highway. 63 people.

Flat Creek Fire – 43 acres. 0% contained. Started Friday. Located in Chelan County, near Flat Creek. Number of firefighters undeclared.

Jupiter Fire/2620 Road Fire – 398 acres. 93% contained. Started 5pm Wednesday. West of Brinnon. 252 people.

Kachess Complex – consists of three fires. Stave Creek Fire: 12.1 acres, 35% contained. Thomas Fire: 9 acres, 95% contained. Waptus Fire 0.5 acres, 100% contained. Started August 9. Located in the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. 155 personnel.

Lodgepole Fire – 35 acres. 6% contained. Started August 12th at 3:30 p.m. Located 16 miles west of Cliffdell. 8 people on fire.

Miners Complex Fires – 1,100 acres. 0% containment. Started July 17. 21 miles east of Darrington. Fire department information unavailable.

Pincer Two Fire – 189 acres. 0% containment. Started July 18. Located 1 mile east of Mineral Park. 15 people.

Ruby Fire – 959 acres. 0% containment. Started 7 a.m. Friday. Whatcom County location. 72 people.

Six Mile Fire – 113 acres. 90% contained. Started Sunday noon. Located in Ferry County near the headwaters of Cottonwood Creek. 25 people.

Shoofly Fire – 104 acres. 63% contained. Ignited July 8. Located 9 miles north of Stevens Pass. No crew information available.

Stranger Creek II Fire – 66 acres. 90% contained. Fire started at 2:17 p.m. Sunday. Location: Ferry County. 44 people.

Williams Mine Fire – 11,778 acres. 31% contained. Started noon on August 5. Location: Near the Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 234 firefighters.

Upper Ruby Fire – 282 acres. 31% contained. Started Tuesday at 3:55 p.m. Located between Ruby Creek and Brown’s Lake. 228 firefighters.

Other fires reported across the state have burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. Most fires are less than 1 acre in size.

The wildfire danger in the Columbia Basin remains very high. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has asked residents to be cautious of anything that could cause a wildfire.

Air quality in the Columbia Basin was good on Thursday.

SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow