Massive fires destroy 25,000 acres near Palouse Falls

Fire season struck Washtucna leaving the local fire department battling blazes throughout their district. Within a four-day period, they responded to three separate calls of fires located on CRP grounds.

Thursday’s fire began with a hay truck fire on State Route 26 outside of Hooper. As the truck became consumed by flames, the fire spread into the CRP and farm ground in the surrounding area.

Crews battled the blaze from the early afternoon hours on Thursday well into the night, spending an estimated six hours attempting to control the burn.

Sunday remained a day filled with flames when Washtucna received a call around 2 p.m. to assist Franklin County with a fire near Palouse Falls State Park caused by a lightning strike.

Meanwhile, while the Palouse Falls Fire burned Washtucna simultaneously assisted with battling a blaze in Benge, requiring mutual aid from Ritzville for both fires.

According to a landowner, both Lind and Harder-McCall fire districts also responded to assist.

The fire in Benge had started earlier in the afternoon and threatened multiple structures. Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 Chief Scott Kembel said Ritzville responded with two brush trucks and a water tanker to the Palouse Falls Fire while a second group responded to Benge.

Kembel said the crew helped battle the Palouse Falls Fire for about six hours before being released. Instead of returning to Ritzville, the crews went to assist in Benge.

Due to the size and intensity of the flames, Palouse Falls State Park had to be evacuated on Sunday and reopened late Monday morning, according to the Spokesman Review.

The fire continued to burn as of Tuesday, Aug. 9, and statewide assistance had been brought in to control the blaze.

Fire officials onsite stated 75 percent of the fire had been contained by Monday night.

According to Washington State Patrol (WSP), the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murry provided state assistance. State Fire Marshal personnel also responded to the scene to coordinate dispatch of resources.

WSP authorized a fire mobilization for the Palouse Falls fire, “in support of local firefighters working to contain the Palouse Falls Fire.”

The release also stated the fire grew to 25,000 acres and threatened homes, crops, farms, a fish hatchery, State Route 26 and other infrastructure near its location.

Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered for wildland strike teams, according to the Washington State Patrol Media Release.

According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, two strike teams, a hand crew and a dozer were dispatched to the Palouse Falls Fire.

The fire was expected to be 100 percent contained by Aug. 9.

The Palouse Falls Fire occurred at the same time as the Fletcher Road Fire, which began south of Palouse Falls and Lyons Ferry State Park.