Colville Reservation wildfire still burning 5,000 acres despite overnight efforts

The Greenhouse Fire that has burned through some 5,000 acres of land about two miles west of the Colville Indian Agency in Nespelem is still burning, despite overnight efforts by fire crews to quell it.

Crews fought against a Red Flag fire weather warning and dry winds Friday night. While the fire had been reduced in size by about 400 acres overnight, it went from 40% containment Friday to 30% containment on Saturday, according to a Northwest Incident Management Team news release.

Northwest Incident Management Team 6, with Incident Commander Shawn Sheldon, assumed control of the fire at 6 a.m. Saturday, the release said.

Three bulldozers, two Type 1 fire crews, three Type 2 fire crews including a crew from Oregon, seven fire engines, two water tenders, and multiple helicopters and aircrafts were fighting the fire as of Saturday.

Bulldozers worked to complete fire lines around the east and north sides of the blaze, the release said. Hotshot crews, named for their work in the hottest part of wildfires, started constructing fire lines on the west side of the fire, where steep terrain prohibits bulldozer work.

The team expects winds to be “light and variable” for the next two days and temperatures to reach the mid-80s today and become 10 to 15 degrees warmer over the next two days, the release said.

The current fire danger rating in the area remains high.