Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Blaze started Aug. 18 flaring up dry grass and active wheat fields
EWAN – A fire that broke out Thursday afternoon was in patrol status on Monday, Aug. 22.
The Wagner Road Fire broke out at about 2:04 p.m. Aug. 18 and grew to nearly 800 acres by late Thursday evening, officials said. The blaze was burning in dry grass, and in stubble and active wheat fields.
The dry grass and brush was taller than two feet, officials said, noting in many areas the height exceeded 4 feet.
That night the fire flared up and grew to about 7,000 acres, officials said.
As of Monday, state fire officials estimated the blaze at 7,381 acres. With the blaze fully contained, state mobilization was expected to end and the incident command be returned to local fire crews.
Over the weekend, fire crews patrol the perimeter for hotspots, extinguishing a “few” that were discovered.
At the height of the fire last week, Fire Boss fixed-wing aircraft and helitack teams assisted in containing the fire.
All evacuation notices have been lifted for the area.
The fire was one of several that have burned in the area near St. John over the last two weeks.
On Thursday, Aug. 11, volunteer firefighters were called to the Hole in the Ground area north of Rock Lake.
A second fire ignited in the Rock Lake area the following afternoon on Friday, Aug. 12.
The wildland fire was estimated to have begun around 1 p.m. near Miller.
Volunteer firefighters from St. John initially responded to the burn, but volunteers from Lamont, Steptoe and Rosalia later assisted and state mobilization was requested.
Two “super scooper” planes responded to battle the fire from above, holding that blaze to 200 acres.
Another spot fire popped up along Interstate 90 near the Fishtrap Lake area last week, as well.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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