FIRE REPORT: Royal Slope Fire District puts out fire with limited water
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
Royal Slope firefighters knocked down a fire at an orchard near Royal Camp Wednesday afternoon.
COURTESY PHOTO/GCSO
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. | May 17, 2024 1:30 AM
ROYAL CITY — A small fire broke out at an orchard around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 12000 block of Road A Southeast near Royal Camp, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Because the fuel involved polyurethane netting and other combustibles, Royal Slope firefighters allowed the fire to burn under controlled conditions for a while, in order to limit water use and avoid creating contaminated runoff in irrigation waterways. The fire was out by about 4:30, the GCSO wrote.
A blaze dubbed the Larene Fire burned about 17 acres nine miles northwest of Davenport on Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Davenport Fire Department firefighters and the Department of Natural Resources had the fire contained by Wednesday afternoon.
A small fire burned about two acres in Wapato near the intersection of Highway 97 and E. Jones Road on Thursday. The fire was listed as 100% contained and in mop-up as of 4 p.m. Thursday.
Seven prescribed fires are still burning in Ferry and Stevens counties, mostly concentrated around the Spokane Indian Reservation, and another is burning in the Okanogan National Forest about 43 miles northwest of Omak, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. An announcement from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville said that prescribed burns can be expected through May 31 depending on weather conditions. Prescribed burning helps to reduce wildfires during hotter, dryer seasons by clearing out densely-grown vegetation on forest floors.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
‘Our favorite time of year’
Shop with a Cop brings smiles to both children and officers
MOSES LAKE — The heavy police presence outside local stores recently wasn’t because of a crime wave. It was police officers engaging in their favorite annual event. “This is one of those times throughout the year that we don't have to go and ask for volunteers to help,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “The first day we put it out, I think we got 20-some people say ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ That's just under half the department right away.“
BASIN EVENTS: Dec. 19-27
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people will be spending time at home with their families or at the church of their choice. Still, there are a few things happening around the Basin. Here are some ideas:
Chimney maintenance is essential for safety
MOSES LAKE — With Christmas just around the corner, lots of folks are using their fireplaces for warmth, roasting chestnuts or just a pleasant atmosphere. But before Santa pays your chimney a visit, you should make sure it’s in good working order. Chimney fires are responsible for more than three-fourths of residential building heating fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Regular inspections and cleaning are the best way to prevent that, said Michael Harper, known as The Chimney Guy. “If they’re using (the fireplace) aesthetically – date night, Christmas, New Year’s, show-off times, something in the background here and there, (they should) have it inspected once a year for peace of mind,” Harper said. “If they’re using it two to three days a week religiously through the winter months, they need to have it cleaned once a year.”