Quincy Lakes Fire spurs evacuations
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months AGO
The Quincy Lakes Fire was contained at 289 acres Sunday evening in the Ancient Lakes area south of Quincy. The blaze prompted Level 3 (Go now) evacuation orders when it was discovered Saturday, but all evacuations were canceled Monday morning.
COURTESY PHOTO/GRANT COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 3
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. | July 12, 2026 9:13 AM
QUINCY — A fire that broke out in the Ancient Lakes area south of Quincy Saturday night prompted a Level 3, or Go Now, evacuation order. Nobody was hurt, and no structures were threatened, according to Grant County Fire District 5 firefighter Daniel Garland, who spoke from the scene.
“We evacuated all the campers,” Garland said. “Probably five to seven people, no cars or trucks, not a crazy amount.”
The blaze, dubbed the Quincy Lakes Fire, was contained at 289 acres Sunday evening, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. It was discovered at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the NIFC.
Sunday morning there was a tactical tender from GCFD 3 on the scene, Garland said. The Bureau of Land Management had four engines and three handlines there, he said. GCFD 13, based in Ephrata, responded with mutual aid as well, according to a statement Sunday evening from GCFD 3.
The evacuation order was downgraded to Level 2 (Be prepared to leave) at about 12:30 Sunday afternoon, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office. All evacuation orders were lifted at about 9:30 Monday morning, according to the GCSO.
The cause of the blaze was unknown Sunday, Garland said.
“Our fire marshal is working on that,” he said. “A campfire, fireworks, somebody threw a cigarette butt? Who knows?”
This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available. It was most recently updated at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
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