FIRE REPORT: AUG. 28, 2025
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 1 week AGO
Heavy equipment crews discuss operations for the Pomas Fire June 29. The fire started on June 13, making it the longest lasting blaze in Washington. The fire has scorched around 3,500 acres.
COURTESY PHOTO/BURLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
MOSES LAKE – The fires below were burning and causing smoke and air quality concerns regionally as of Thursday afternoon.
Bear Gulch Fire: 8,960 acres. 13% contained. Mason County. Started July 6. Human caused. Grande Fire: 25 acres. No containment. Stevens County. Started Aug. 25. Lightning caused.
Martin Fire: 60 acres. No containment. Chelan County. Started Aug. 27. Under investigation.
Perry Fire: 20 acres. No containment. Whatcom County. Started Aug. 27. Under investigation.
Pomas Fire: 3,533 acres. No containment. Chelan County. Started June 13. Lightning caused.
Wildcat Fire: 50 acres. No containment. Yakima County. Started Aug. 25. Under investigation.
Air quality:
Air quality labels are decided by the air quality index number. Between zero and 50 is good, 51-100 is moderate, 101-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy and above 301 is hazardous.
Ephrata: Good, 35 Air Quality Index.
Moses Lake: Moderate, 61 Air Quality Index.
Othello: Moderate, 59 Air Quality Index.
Quincy: Good, 35 Air Quality Index.
SOURCES: INCIWEB, WATCHDUTY, AIRNOW.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
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