Western Pines Fire in eastern WA holds steady, evacuation orders in place
LINCOLN COUNTY, Wash. - A wildfire that sparked Wednesday afternoon in eastern Washington has decreased slightly from 5,837 acres to 5,812 acres as of Monday afternoon. Containment remains at 0% as the weekend nears an end.
Both Level 1 and Level 3 evacuation zones are now in effect. Hundreds of more firefighting personnel have been added to the blaze since the end of the workweek, up to 441 people now.
While 272 personnel are fighting the Western Pines Fire, it remains 0% contained. (Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, InciWeb)
Keep reading for updated fire totals, a timeline of the firefighting efforts and updated evacuation maps.
By the numbers:
Officials say the Western Pines Fire, burning in Lincoln County about 10 miles northeast of Davenport, was first reported at around 12:34 p.m. Wednesday.
As of Friday morning, the fire had grown to 5,837 acres – about a 1,700-acre increase since Thursday's update. Thankfully, the fire stopped growing as more firefighters joined in to tackle the blaze over the weekend.
Western Pines Fire timeline
Wednesday, July 9
Timeline:
On Wednesday, crews launched their initial attack on the fire with retardant drops from aerial resources, which helped slow its growth. Structure protection teams and ground crews worked through the night to build direct and indirect fire lines in an effort to gain better containment. Officials say rugged terrain limited firefighter access to some areas.
Thursday, July 10
Thursday’s aerial firefighting efforts slowed fire activity, allowing ground crews to establish indirect lines. Fire activity picked up in the afternoon, driven by topography and aligned winds, which led crews to expand Level 3 and Level 2 evacuation areas south of the fire.
Friday, July 11
What they're saying:
"Today, the primary focus will be for ground crews on connecting fire lines around the southern perimeter of the fire and aided by aerial resources as necessary," the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Friday morning press release. "Structure protection teams will continue to evaluate at risk structures and provide protection (vegetation mitigation or breaks, primarily with dozer or hand lines) if the fire continues to progress to the south."
Saturday, July 12
Hand crews worked together to link fire containment lines along the western and southern perimeters of the blaze while mitigating hotspots in the interior, according to WatchDuty.
"Decreased fire activity along the existing fire perimeter enabled crews to enter further into the interior of the fire to assess risks and address required suppression need," said Jaimee Whitifield on WatchDuty.
Sunday, July 13
On Sunday, crews are reportedly back on the firelines to reinforce the work done in the earlier part of the weekend.
Throughout the day, investigators will keep an eye on hot spots within the blaze and assess structures for risks. They hope this work will increase their reported containment.
Monday, July 14
WA wildfire updates: Toonerville, Bear Gulch, Western Pines and more
The Toonerville fire has been downgraded to a level one evacuation. The Bear Gulch fire has burned 440 acres and is not contained at all. Fox 13 Meteorologist Abby Acone has more on how the heat will impact fire danger this week.
On Monday, officials announced that Level 1 and Level 3 evacuations remain in effect. However, all the Level 2 "Get Set" evacuations have been downgraded to Level 1 "Get Ready" evacuations.
"Evacuations have been downgraded in some areas, however, please be vigilant, high temperatures and potential wind gusts can increase fire activity," the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office wrote in part. "Today, winds are expected to pick up this afternoon, testing the strength of the fire line. Crews will continue to work inward from the fire lines, working on smoldering pockets of material. As winds pick up, crews will patrol for potential spot fires for rapid engagement when discovered."
What's next:
Officials expect increased fire activity into Friday afternoon, with a warming and drying weather trend continuing through the weekend.
What caused the West Pines Fire near Davenport, WA?
What we know:
According to the state Department of Natural Resources, the cause of the fire remains under investigation but is believed to be human-caused. The fire is burning grass, timber and brush. Winds from a passing cold front on Wednesday caused the fire to spread rapidly east.
(Lincoln County Sheriff's Office)
Evacuation orders issued for Western Pines Fire near Davenport, WA
Why you should care:
The Western Pines Fire has grown an additional 700 acres since Thursday, and is threatening homes. Officials have expanded Level 3 "Go Now" and Level 2 "Get Set" evacuation zones for residents in the area.
Level 3 and Level 2 evacuation zones (Updated Friday, July 11) (Lincoln County Sheriff's Office)
Officials have asked residents in Green Canyon, Mill Canyon, Harker Canyon, Farr Road and Angel Spring Road to evacuate immediately. Level Road at Sunset Highway is closed as the fire remains active. The Lincoln County Fairgrounds has been opened to shelter evacuees.
What you can do:
If you live near the Western Pines Fire, you are encouraged to monitor the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Facebook page for real-time evacuation alerts. Law enforcement and fire crews ask that you stay out of these areas and allow the ground and air support firefighters the time and space to work this fire.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Source: Information in this story comes from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol.
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