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Road Six fire
Road Six fire
MANSFIELD, Wash. – Several firefighters who doused flames in Wenatchee are now battling a 3,500-acre brush fire in Douglas County.
The Road 6 Fire sparked Monday afternoon about 6 miles south of the town of Mansfield. Officials suspect lightning sparked the fire but they still don’t know for sure.
Fire crews appear to have a good handle on the blaze but stiff winds could push the fire out of control again.
“If we get lightning, or a pickup drives through some tall grass, you snap your fingers hard, it’s going to go,” said Neil Mirmer as he watched flames in the distance.
Five miles long and two miles wide, firefighters so far have encircled the Road 6 Fire with containment lines.
Brothers Neil and Russell Mirmer fear their wheat farm could be in danger if the wind kicks up again.
“If they come up in the wrong direction, we could be in a world of hurt over there,” said Russell.
“Strong, gusty winds, the fire could escape outside of the containment lines,” said fire official Ray Steiger. “If they don’t get everything mopped up within 100 feet of those lines, it would make it difficult. The fire could spark up and get away.”
The weather is also a factor for firefighters battling the hot spots. Fire crews have been able to protect homes and buildings but some wheat crops were lost.
“It’s important from the standpoint of the farmer that we knock down this fire and not let it get away anymore,” Steiger added.
There’s little that Neil and Russell can do but watch and hope that the fire lines hold.
“All it has to do is hop the fence,” Neil said. “If it takes off, it would be just like yesterday again, and away she goes.”
Rain would also help lower the fire risk in Douglas County, but instead hot, dry weather dominates the forecast.
Late Tuesday night, state officials said the wildfire that has burned across nearly 5 ½ square miles of sagebrush and grass near the town of Mansfield is 50 percent contained and no longer threatens homes.