Wednesday, January 22, 2025
8.0°F

FIRE REPORT: Local firefighters train for the busy season

JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months, 1 week 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 19, 2024 1:44 AM

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 volunteers and staff have been training for wildland-urban interface structure defense in preparation for wildfire season, according to an announcement from GCFD 7. Training Monday night was available remotely, but next week will include hands-on training in evaluating structures and determining escape routes, safety zones and temporary refuge areas. 

The Pioneer Fire on the shore of Lake Chelan about 30 miles northwest of Wenatchee held more or less steady Tuesday at 3,811 acres. Green fuels and a northwesterly wind slowed the fire’s northward progression, according to the Department of Natural Resources, although the blaze is still moving southward.

“Due to the rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure within the wilderness, the fire is likely to continue burning for some time,” the DNR wrote in a bulletin. “Fire personnel are developing long-term suppression strategies for potential use later this summer.”

The Beam Road Fire, which threatened the town of Zillah in the Yakima Valley, was 93% contained Tuesday at 8,542 acres, and costs were estimated at $1.5 million, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. 

These other fires were also burning in Washington on Monday, according to the NIFC:

• The Neff Road Fire, discovered Saturday about 20 miles northeast of Pasco, had grown to 1,439 acres Tuesday. It was fully contained and costs were estimated at $5,000.

• The Nisqually John Fire, discovered Friday morning about 10 miles northwest of Lewiston, Idaho, was fully contained Tuesday at 1,207 acres. Costs are estimated at $211,297. 

• The Rest Haven Fire, on the eastern outskirts of Yakima, had burned 45 acres since its discovery May 30. Containment and cost information was not available Tuesday. The blaze was attributed to human activity.

• The 19.2-acre Warden Fire, discovered Monday about 25 miles northwest of Olympia, was 75% contained Tuesday afternoon. The cause of the fire was unknown and containment and cost information was not available.

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

Joel Martin may be reached by email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.

MORE STORIES

FIRE REPORT: Ephrata area fire shuts down SR 17
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 6 months, 3 weeks ago
Fire report: Burn barrel triggers wildfire near Ephrata
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 8 months ago
FIRE REPORT: Pioneer Fire still growing in North Cascades
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 6 months, 2 weeks ago

ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN

Chess tournament sharpens wits in Ephrata
January 22, 2025 3 a.m.

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.

Royal City honors retiring public works director
January 22, 2025 3 a.m.

Royal City honors retiring public works director

ROYAL CITY — The City of Royal City said goodbye to longtime Public Works Director John Lasen with a small retirement party Friday at City Hall. “For years and years, it seemed like Royal City was the same forever and ever,” Royal City Mayor Michael Christensen said at the celebration. “But in these last 10 years in particular, we've seen some considerable change, and John has been a significant part of that, helping see the vision and oversee some of the big projects that we've done.”

Lavender donation honors late food bank director
January 21, 2025 2:05 a.m.

Lavender donation honors late food bank director

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Food Bank received a different kind of donation Thursday. Joe Downs, owner of Lavender Ranch near Quincy, donated 70 bundles of lavender to Community Services of Moses Lake in memory of Peny Archer, the food bank’s director who passed away earlier this month. Each bundle has a photo of Archer on it.