SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 received two U.S. Department of Homeland Security firefighter grants totaling almost $773,000. The department’s press release says that these grants are very competitive.  

The first grant of $259,000 is for a self-contained breathing apparatus. These are the packs that firefighters wear on their backs that contain breaking air to ensure firefighters can breathe while they combat structure fires, vehicle fires and hazardous material incidents.  

GCFD 7 was using a breathing apparatus in which parts were no longer available due to the age of the device and the manufacturer going out of business. In 2023, GCFD 7 put all their devices out of service due to safety concerns. Since then, the district the district has been borrowing devices from another fire department. The devices were still old, however in functionable condition.  

The second grant was for almost $514,000 for a new pumper to replace a 1973 water tender which is a safety hazard for firefighters to operate. The funds will be used to purchase a new 3,000-gallon pumper equipped with a 1000 GPM pump capable of pumping and rolling. This will be the district's first and only structure-rated pumper, the rest are small and used for wildland fires.  

The addition of this pumper will ensure GCFD 7 can respond with the needed water to combat its fires within its jurisdiction and surrounding area as mutual aid partners in other jurisdictions.  

The press release said this will also improve the Fire Districts Washington Survey and Ratings Board rating which will save tax-paying citizens money on their property insurance rates.  

Largest Washington fires:       

Retreat Fire: Washington’s largest active blaze was at 45,600 acres and went up 10% containment from Thursday to Saturday, now sitting at 80% containment. The fire started at 4 p.m. July 14 about 14 miles southeast of Naches. It has 339 personnel on it.  

Pioneer Fire: Washington's second-largest active wildfire was at 38,700 acres and 23% containment Saturday, 5% better than Thursday. The fire started around 1 p.m. June 8 and is located 10 miles southwest of Stehekin. 635 personnel were involved in suppressing the blaze Thursday.    

Cougar Creek Fire: Washington’s third-largest fire had burned 24,100 acres and was 75% contained Saturday, 15% more than Thursday. The fire blazed up around 8 p.m. July 15 approximately 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 129 and the Grand Ronde River, south of Walla Walla. 272 personnel were on the scene.

New Washington fires:   

No new fires were reported in the state Saturday.

One new fire contained Saturday. 

Wolf Fork Fire: 130 acres. 100% containment. Started at 2 p.m. Aug. 5 and contained 10 a.m. Saturday. Located in Columbia County.  

Other fires:  

Easy Fire: 2,100 acres. 29% containment. Began at 8 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. 300 personnel. 

Flat Creek Fire: 40 acres. 0% contained. Started on Friday. Located in Chelan County, near Flat Creek. Crew size not specified.    

Jupiter Fire/2620 Road Fire: 162 acres. 0 contained. Started 5 p.m. Wednesday. Located west of Brinnon. 162 personnel.  

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

Lodgepole Fire: 35 acres. 6% contained. Started at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12. Located 16 miles west of Cliffdell. 47 personnel on fire.  

Miners Complex Fires: 1,100 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 17. Located 21 miles east of Darrington. Fire crew details unavailable.    

Pincer Two Fire: 190 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 18. Located one mile east of Mineral Park. 15 personnel.   

Ruby Fire: 820 acres. 0% containment. Began 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. 88 personnel.     

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

Williams Mine Fire: 11,600 acres. 2% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 272 personnel.

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.

The Columbia Basin’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.

Air quality was moderate Saturday for the Columbia Basin.

SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow