FIRE REPORT: Residential fire quenched in George Monday
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 3 months AGO
A residential fire broke out in George Monday morning but was quickly brought under control.
GCSO PHOTO
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. | September 10, 2024 1:30 AM
GEORGE — A residential fire broke out Monday morning in the 100 block of Montmorency Boulevard in George, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. It was under control by 8 a.m., according to the statement.
Largest Washington fires:
Pioneer Fire – Washington’s largest wildfire. 38,735 acres. 23% containment. Began around 1 p.m. June 8. Located 10 miles southeast of Stehekin. Costs estimated at $105 million.
Cougar Creek Fire – Washington’s second-largest fire. 24,091 acres. 100% contained. Blazed up at 8 p.m. July 15. Located south of Walla Walla. Costs estimated at $35 million.
Williams Mine Fire – Washington’s third-largest wildfire – 13,057 acres. 31% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Costs estimated at $35 million.
Three new fires:
Swauk Creek Fire – 100 acres. Started Sunday at 3:34 p.m., 17 miles northwest of Ellensburg.
Wynnie Fire – 12.3 acres. Started at 9:31 a.m. Monday, 14 miles northwest of Wenatchee.
Beaver Canyon Fire – 40 acres. Started at 11:52 a.m. Monday, 22 miles east of Oroville.
Other fires:
Blewett Fire – 15 acres. 99% containment. Started 2:23 p.m. Sept. 4. near Blewett Pass. Costs estimated at $800,000.
Easy Fire – 2,130 acres. 39% containment. Began 8 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. Costs estimated at $15 million.
Huckleberry Ridge Fire – 293 acres. 0% containment. Started Sept. 4. Located about 25 miles northwest of Longview.
Miners Complex Fires – 1,098 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 17. Located 21 miles east of Darrington. Costs estimated at $500,000.
Pincer Two Fire – 189 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 18. Located 1 mile east of Mineral Park. Costs estimated at $500,000.
Ruby Fire – 1,300 acres. 0% containment. Began 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. Costs estimated at $5 million.
Sand Piper Fire – 24 acres. Discovered Sept. 4 at 2:24 p.m. on the Washington side of the Columbia River about 22 miles west of Umatilla, Ore.
Shoofly Fire – 104 acres. 91% contained. Ignited on July 8. Located 9 miles north of Stevens Pass. Costs estimated at $10 million.
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 good Monday for the Columbia Basin.
SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
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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.”