Thursday, December 18, 2025
37.0°F

Fire report for June 28, 2023

JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 5 months AGO
by JOEL MARTIN
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. | June 28, 2023 1:00 AM

WENATCHEE — State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Methow Fire just outside Wenatchee, according to a statement from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Methow Fire started Tuesday at approximately 1:25 p.m., according to the statement. This fire was estimated at 50 acres and growing as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. It is burning in shrub-streppe and is threatening homes and natural resources, the statement said. Level 2 evacuations are in effect at this time and the fire cause is currently under investigation, according to the statement.

These wildfires were also burning in Washington as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations:

• Drumheller, between Moses Lake and Ephrata: 929 acres. Fire started June 14. 25% contained.

• Oasis, about seven miles west of Touchet: 4,250 acres. Fire started June 19. 100% contained.

• South Satus, about 14 miles southeast of Toppenish: 997 acres. Fire started June 13. 100% contained.

• Hansen Road, about one mile south of Benton City: 6,289 acres. Fire started June 13. 100% contained.

• Ruppert Road, about three miles north of Benton City: 155 acres. Fire started June 13. 100% contained.

• Hover Park, three miles southeast of Finley: 528 acres. Fire started June 13. 100% contained.

• Sutherland, about 10 miles west of Port Angeles: 108 acres. Fire started June 17. 90% contained.

• Old Naches, about one mile southeast of Naches: 645 acres. Fire started June 7. 0% contained.

• Pete’s Creek, nine miles northwest of Pateros: 6 acres. Fire started June 25. Containment information not available.

• Marietta, Spokane Valley: 2 acres. Fire started June 27. Containment information not available.

• Catherine Creek, 10 miles northwest of Curlew: 1 acre. Fire started June 27. Containment information not available.

ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN

Wahluke Jr. High earns Culture Kick-Off Award again
December 16, 2025 6:25 p.m.

Wahluke Jr. High earns Culture Kick-Off Award again

MATTAWA — Wahluke Junior High School has been honored with the 2025 Culture Kickoff Award for the second year in a row, according to an announcement from the Association of Washington School Leaders and the Association of Washington School Principals.

Cops for Tots
December 18, 2025 3:05 a.m.

Cops for Tots

Moses Lake Police collect toys for local children

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is focused on supporting local children this year with their revamped annual toy drive. “We had been doing this for a while, through Toys for Tots,” said MLPD Public Records Technician Cristina Valdez. “But last year we decided to change it to Cops for Tots so that we could make sure the toys stayed within our own community.” Officers and support staff stationed themselves outside both entrances of the Moses Lake Walmart Saturday evening.

Local bean bag champ eyes pro game
December 18, 2025 3 a.m.

Local bean bag champ eyes pro game

MOSES LAKE — We’ve seen the game at almost every outdoor community gathering: two or more players tossing bean bags at a board tilted up at an angle, aiming for a hole in the board. But that bean bag toss game, also called cornhole, is more than just a casual pastime; it’s a serious sport with dedicated players. “I’m trying to go pro right now,” said Camryn Barrientoz of Moses Lake. “I was No. 2 in Washington, and since I did really well in this regional (tournament), it got me enough points where it bumped me up to No. 1 in Washington.” That regional tournament was held in Wenatchee Dec. 12-13, and Camryn, along with his doubles partner Jay Robins, took back-to-back titles, according to an email Camryn sent the Columbia Basin Herald.