Firefighters shore up lines on state blazes
DAYTON, Wash. – Wildfires have forced the closure of dozens of roads, campgrounds and trails in Eastern Washington entering the busy Labor Day weekend, as firefighters prepared for warmer temperatures that could stoke the flames.
About 1,380 firefighters battled the Columbia Complex of fires in southeast Washington near Dayton, which have scorched 124 square miles of wheat fields, brush and forest. The fire was 25 percent contained at 79,324 acres Friday.
About 350 people remained evacuated from their homes Thursday. Some of those residents were allowed to return Friday, but exactly how many was unknown, said Bruce Prud’homme, a fire information officer for the U.S. Forest Service.
“They’ve made a lot of progress,” Prud’homme said. “Conditions have been pretty fair for the past couple of days, but with the weather turning now … things are not as pretty as they used to be. Burning conditions are worsening.”
Forecasters predicted increasing temperatures – into the 90s – and lower humidity through the weekend.
The north, south and west lines of the fire were secure, as well as the northeast corner, he said. The southeast corner posed the biggest problem, where the blaze was burning into the Umatilla National Forest and the Wenaha Tucannon Wilderness Area.
All roads and trails within the Umatilla National Forest north of the Washington state border were closed and were expected to remain closed throughout the holiday weekend.
In north-central Washington, the tourist communities of Stehekin, Conconully, Winthrop and Mazama were open for business, though many trails, roads and campgrounds in the region were closed.
Visitors should be mindful that entire blocks of national forest land have been closed due to wildfire danger, including most of the eastern portion of the Pasayten Wilderness and parts of the Loomis State Forest, said Diane Bedell, a Forest Service spokeswoman.
In addition, numerous hunters were expected in the region for the start of the grouse season and the bow season for deer hunters.
“We’re asking the hunters out there to really pay attention to the area closures,” Bedell said. “They often know the land better than our firefighters. But these areas are closed for their safety, and the safety of the firefighters.”
About 2,250 firefighters battled the Tripod Complex of fires northeast of Winthrop. That complex, which was 54 percent contained Friday, has blackened nearly 235 square miles. Crews continued to drop water and retardant to slow the fire’s spread and to aid efforts to build fire lines.
Other fires of note:
“About 125 firefighters were working the lightning-caused 6,529-acre Tinpan fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
“A 375-acre wildfire on Quinns Meadows Road near Colville was 50 percent contained, and crews hoped to have it fully contained Saturday.
“Crews continued to monitor the 5,545-acre Flick Creek fire on the east shore of Lake Chelan. That fire was 40 percent contained.
“The lightning-caused Tatoosh and Cedar Complex, north and south of Mazama in the Pasayten Wilderness, covered more than 7,000 acres, or nearly 11 square miles. Firefighters were preparing to wrap several wooden bridges and cabins nearby in protective material as a precaution.
“The Carbon Copy Complex fire near Carbonado in Western Washington covered 280 acres and was 75 percent contained.
“The Bear Gulch fire near Olympic National Park stood at 800 acres and was 60 percent trailed.