Douglas County fires grow to 18,000 acres, neighborhood evacuated

Fires that started Friday evening in Douglas County have grown to nearly 18,000 acres in size and prompted a mandatory Level 3 evacuation for the Rimrock Meadows community, as of Saturday night.

The fires are believed to have been started by lightning strikes Friday night, said Bill Slosson, chief deputy state fire marshal.

The Jameson Lake fire, which is east of Waterville, Washington, is burning in dry pastures and wheat fields. Slosson estimated it was 7,700 acres and 50 percent contained as of Saturday evening.

The Rimrock-Wagon Wheel fire, about 30 miles southeast of Waterville, also started Friday. It comprises a number of smaller fires scattered around the area, Slosson said. Those fires total roughly 10,000 acres, he said.

Combined, the fires have grown to an estimated 17,700 acres and are threatening homes and standing wheat fields.

Rimrock Meadows is about 17 miles northwest of Ephrata.

State fire assistance has been mobilized to fight the Douglas County fires, according to a Washington State Patrol news release.

The state assistance will include three hand crews, seven task forces, two rotors and one bulldozer, in addition to resources already fighting the fire. There are 200 people, two helicopters, seven bulldozers and at least 35 engines on scene, Slosson said.

“It sounds like they’re making good progress,” he said. “The challenge with the Rimrock-Wagon Wheel fire is finding all the fires and getting them all buttoned up.”