Spokane, Okanogan fires continue to threaten homes
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 5 months AGO
The West Hallett fire spread to 200 acres Monday afternoon and has prompted evacuation notices around the southwestern corner of Spokane.
COURTESY PHOTO/WA DNR
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | August 2, 2023 1:30 AM
SPOKANE — The West Hallett fire, located along Spokane-Cheney Road just southwest of Spokane, remained at 200 acres Tuesday. The fire, which sprang up suddenly Monday afternoon, was 0% contained and costs were estimated at $150,000 so far, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The Eagle Bluff fire in Okanogan County at the Canadian border was 10% contained Tuesday, according to the NIFC. The blaze currently stands at 15,349 acres and has cost an estimated $4,900,000, as well as triggering evacuations on both sides of the border.
These wildfires were also burning in Washington on Tuesday, according to the NIFC:
• NS-198, about 56 miles west of Yakima: 2 acres. Fire discovered July 31. Containment and cost information not available.
• Austin Road, 6700 block of North Austin Road, Spokane: 1 acre. Fire discovered July 30. Containment and cost information not available.
• Pine Hollow, about 8 miles west of Yakima: 30 acres. Fire discovered July 31. Containment and cost information not available.
• NS-197, Vancouver: 1.5 acres. Fire discovered July 31. Containment and cost information not available.
• Katie Lane, about 6 miles southeast of Spokane: 12.4 acres. Fire discovered July 30. Containment and cost information not available.
• Bear Creek, about 13 miles southeast of Mount Vernon: 2.5 acres. Fire discovered July 29. Containment and cost information not available.
• NS-193, about 15 miles north of Vancouver: 1.5 acres. Fire discovered July 30. Containment and cost information not available.
• Sourdough, about 60 miles east of Bellingham: 25 acres. Fire discovered July 29. Containment and cost information not available.
• Wawawai, about 5 miles west of Pullman: 526 acres. 99% contained. Fire discovered July 24. Costs estimated at $357,253.
• Newell Road, about 17 miles east of Goldendale: 60,551 acres. Fire discovered July 21. 100% contained. Costs estimated at $9,900,000.
• Consalus, about 20 miles north of Newport: 475 acres. Fire discovered June 30. 70% contained. Costs estimated at $10,000,000.
• Airplane Lake, about 50 miles northwest of Chelan: 25 acres. Fire discovered July 7. 0% contained. Costs estimated at $50,000.
• Badger, about 5 miles northeast of Wenatchee. 473 acres. Fire discovered July 20. 100% contained. Costs estimated at $820,000.
Joel Martin may be reached at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Chess tournament sharpens wits in Ephrata
Annual strategic competition set for February 1
EPHRATA — A hundred young players will go head-to-head – and brain-to-brain – at the Waypoint Foundation Scholastic Chess Tournament in Ephrata Feb. 1. This is the 18th year the tournament has been held at Parkway Elementary School. said Troy Pugh, who created and manages the tournament with his brother Roger Pugh. This year, Pugh said, the foundation has added online registration for the first time. There were 89 players registered Tuesday morning, he said, which is the fastest it’s ever filled up. “Usually, we don’t get to 89 until the week of the event,” he said.
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