Burning Restrictions Ordered

Wed., Aug. 3, 1994

Washington state imposed outdoor burning restrictions Tuesday on all 12 million acres of private and stateowned forest, range and grasslands.

The restrictions are in response to weather conditions that have heightened the threat of wildfires, said Lands Commissioner Jennifer Belcher.

“We’re weeks ahead of our usual fire danger levels in the state due to the early dry weather and lightning strikes,” Belcher said.

About 140,730 acres have burned in Washington so far this year, 99,200 acres on the Tyee Creek fire near Entiat and Chelan.

An estimated $15.9 million has been spent on firefighting in the state this year.

Elsewhere in the Northwest:

WASHINGTON

More than 7,000 civilians joined firefighters on the front fire lines Tuesday, working to deepen and strengthen fire lines on the Tyee Creek, Hatchery Creek and Rat Creek fires and six other major blazes around the state.

The Hatchery Complex has burned about 24,290 acres, including the 13,600-acre Rat Creek fire south of Leavenworth.

In Okanogan County, 8,460 acres have burned, including 4,700 acres on Thunder Mountain and 1,375 at War Creek.

At the Klickitat Complex, 4,100 acres have burned in the Klickitat River Canyon area of the Yakama Indian Reservation.

The Lakebeds fire has burned about 5,400 acres near Goldendale.

IDAHO

Just as weary firefighters wrapped up several large blazes in Idaho Tuesday, lightning storms flickered in the remote central mountains.

Fire bosses called in more firefighters to quell the 4,000-acre Idaho City fire on Tuesday. The work force grew to more than 1,100, Boise National Forest spokesman Don Kass said.

Army troops from the 1st Cavalry Division, Hood, Texas, were scheduled to start arriving today.

Five fires were burning five to six miles southeast of Idaho City, 35 miles northeast of Boise.

The largest fire, at Bannock Creek, reached 2,000 acres Tuesday, but fire bosses predicted containment by late today. There is no estimate when the four other fires will be contained. Most of them are burning on steep hillsides with limited access.

MONTANA

The weather will be against firefighters battling blazes in western Montana over the next few days.

Predictions are for thunderstorms without rain, lower humidity, higher temperatures and light winds.

About 500 Army troops from Fort Hood, Texas, were scheduled to arrive today to help 700 firefighters already battling the Ninemile Complex fire on the Lolo National Forest.

Among them is the 700-acre Beaver Slough fire, 24 miles northwest of Missoula. It was only 20 percent contained Tuesday.

OREGON

Oregon firefighters who helped protect Washington state homes began to head home Tuesday.

Fire crews back in Oregon scrambled across the northeastern part of the state to fight fires touched off by 465 lightning strikes Monday night.

In the Malheur National Forest, 18 new fires began, but only three grew to any substantial size.

Weather, wildfires prompt state rules

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