Wanapum fire, near Beverly, burns about 370 acres
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
A fire near Wanapum Dam on Saturday afternoon closed State Route 243 for about five hours.
File photo
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | June 9, 2025 5:37 PM
BEVERLY — A wildland fire closed a portion of State Route 243 north of Beverly Burke Road for about four and a half hours Saturday near Wanapum Dam and the Wanapum Village.
The fire was reported at about 5 p.m., according to a statement from the Washington Department of Transportation. The road reopened at about 9:30 p.m.
The fire was estimated at about 372 acres and was listed as contained as of Monday morning. Eric Linn, Grant County Fire District 10 chief, said land along the highway near Wanapum Dam is owned by a number of different federal and state agencies, which scrambles the fire management picture.
While the fire was in GCFD 10's coverage area, the Federal Bureau of Land Management was the lead agency, Linn said. The BLM spokesperson could not be reached by press time.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated throughout and is finalized.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road projects on hold for Labor Day weekend
MOSES LAKE — With Labor Day weekend dead ahead, drivers will be able to move freely about the state. Most road projects are on hold for the holiday weekend. Nobody will be working on the Hansen Road overpass on Interstate 90, but the lane restrictions that are in effect will continue through the end of the project.
Cost estimates for water source alternatives given to Moses Lake City Council
Protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, efforts are ongoing to keep it self-sufficient
MOSES LAKE — It’s going to cost a lot of money to provide alternative water sources for the city of Moses Lake, but some of the possible alternatives will cost more than others. City officials provided the Moses Lake City Council with costs for various alternatives Tuesday.
Dryer vent cleaning is important -- but often overlooked
MOSES LAKE — Not all the maintenance a house needs is visible. Sometimes a potential problem just goes unnoticed until it causes trouble, sometimes serious trouble. But a lot of potential problems give off warning signs. Clothes dryers often do when they need a good cleaning.