GRASS FIRE near Wishram grew to 8,000 acres over the weekend, and was 90 percent contained as of Monday morning. The Horsethief Butte Fire prompted home evacuations and caused closures on Highway 14, which re-opened at 11 a.m. Monday.
GRASS FIRE near Wishram grew to 8,000 acres over the weekend, and was 90 percent contained as of Monday morning. The Horsethief Butte Fire prompted home evacuations and caused closures on Highway 14, which re-opened at 11 a.m. Monday.
GOLDENDALE — The Klickitat County Sheriff’s office has lifted Level 3 evacuation notices for Wishram as the nearby Horsethief Butte fire that threatened homes is reported to be 90 percent contained. Reports on Monday put the fire at about 8,000 acres.
At approximately 12:10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, a fast-moving grass fire was reported in the area of Oak Creek Road in south central Klickitat County. The fire quickly grew, spreading east towards the town of Wishram. As of 5 p.m the fire had burned approximately 4,000 acres. At approximately 3:15 p.m. the fire was approved for State Mobilization, making additional resources available.
On Monday, the South East Washington Management Team took command of the fire and worked with regional agencies to set up control lines, conduct mop-up activities and provide an accurate fire perimeter.
The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office has reduced evacuation notifications to a Level One. Washington’s Highway 14 has been re-opened for travel.
No homes were lost. An undetermined number of outbuildings have been lost or damaged. DNR fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
The Red Cross shelter at The Father’s House Church at 207 S Klickitat St. in Goldendale remained open Monday to provide services and information.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Horsethief Butte Fire.
FEMA Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined Monday that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on Sept. 13 at 10:42 p.m.
At the time of the request, the fire was threatening over 125 homes in and around the communities of Dallesport and Wishram. Evacuation orders were issued for approximately 300 people. The fire was also threatening public utility transmission and distribution lines along state Route 14, community buildings, irrigation infrastructure, recreational resources at two state parks, and valued environmental resources of the Columbia River.
In Goldendale, evacuees were helped by volunteers and a local restaurant that stepped up to the occasion. Jessica Bieker, Pam Gasca, Marsha Morgan, Nola (a tenant from Simcoe) and others from Simcoe Manor apartments spent about five hours helping at Father‘s House before the Red Cross got there and welcomed displaced people. When the Red Cross arrived, they ordered 30 meals from Sod Busters, and Gasca and Bieker drove to pick them up. Sod Busters closed the place just to get the meals ready.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.