Firefighters start mop-up work
Despite a storm that whipped up heavy winds, firefighters began mop-up work Saturday on the two largest wildfires burning in Eastern Washington as crews neared full containment on two other major fires.
In southeastern Washington near Pomeroy, the winds Friday evening knocked out power to the town and to the fire camp for a few hours but did not push the flames.
The weather brought rain and cooler temperatures, mostly at the north end of the 77-square-mile wildfire. The moisture helped moderate fire behavior, which allowed crews to work closer to the fire, said Kris Erikson, fire information officer.
The blaze, which started in School Canyon near power lines, has burned land in the Umatilla National Forest and private and state acreage. It was listed as 55 percent contained on Saturday, said Nora Perez, fire information officer.
About 1,700 firefighters were assigned to the fire Saturday, and 120 residences were listed as threatened, said Alesia Ruchert, a fire information officer.
The fire has burned 109 residences, along with 106 outbuildings, which were lost last weekend. About eight of the burned homes were full-time residences, according to the Red Cross.
Because of the immense size of the fire, officials have said the blaze probably won’t be totally out until late fall or winter.
Cost of fighting the blaze is about $7 million.
The Harker Canyon fire about nine miles west of Davenport was 60 percent contained at nearly 1,570 acres on Saturday, said Wade Alonzo, a fire information officer.
About 300 firefighters fortified fire lines and began putting out hot spots within 300 feet of the perimeter. At times crews were on their knees feeling the ground with their hands and unearthing things like stumps that could cause flare-ups, Alonzo said.
Thermal detection devices will eventually be used to scan the area for additional heat sources, he said.
Fire lines held despite a storm Friday that brought winds of 30 mph and gusts to 40 mph.
The Harker Canyon fire, burning across grass, sagebrush and tree-filled ravines about 35 miles west of Spokane, started Wednesday.
Residents who had been evacuated from 35 homes have been allowed to return home.
In coming days, state fire crews are expected to turn over mop-up operations to local firefighters in three other large Eastern Washington wildfires.
The 735-acre Lick Creek fire near Cle Elum on the east slope of the Cascades in central Washington was 90 percent contained Saturday. The 1,150-acre Dirty Face fire near Lake Wenatchee was 80 percent contained.
Full containment was expected this weekend for both fires.
Idaho
Crews were digging in and improving fire lines on the western flank of a fire that had burned more than 3,800 acres by Saturday afternoon, threatening 80 homes.
Containment of the Blackerby Fire is estimated at 5 percent, and fire officials are still investigating the origins of the human-caused blaze in north-central Idaho.
“The goal was to hold the fire lines and defend homes,” spokesman Pat McKelvey said of the more than 500 firefighters who battled the blaze following the arrival of five additional crews Friday evening.
In all, six helicopters, 31 engines, three dozers and 12 water trucks worked near the South Fork Clearwater River, where flames have caused some families to temporarily evacuate. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne declared a disaster emergency for Idaho County, where the Blackerby Fire and three additional fires are burning.
Elsewhere in Idaho, about a dozen large lightning-caused wildfires continued to burn Saturday, though the Laidlaw Butte range fire was reported fully contained after it raced through about 29,000 acres of grass and sage about 14 miles southeast of Carey.
The disaster declaration makes Idaho County eligible for at least $5,000 in state assistance. It will be in effect for 30 days.
“There is peril to public safety and property which is likely to be beyond the control of the services of Idaho County,” Kempthorne said.
In Grangeville on Saturday, Gay Conley returned with her husband and son to the home they had fled earlier in the week. The family left after watching flames at the bottom of a nearby canyon race toward the top of the ridge in just 10 minutes.
About 250 yards behind her home, the fire had scorched a portion of her property.
“I couldn’t believe the heat from here,” Conley said.
Residents of the steep, rugged area talked of almost nothing but the fire.
“I hope I never see fire again,” said Sandra Nelson, in Grangeville’s Camas Cafe with her husband, Jeff.
Montana
Continued cool, wet weather left authorities here optimistic Saturday of containing an 11,000-acre wildfire that has threatened several homes and major power lines since being started more than a week ago.
Rain fell on the Tarkio and West Mountain fires, now one large fire, near Alberton overnight and cooler temperatures were expected again Saturday, fire information officer Bob Summerfield said.