Nisqually fire contained

COLTON - A fire started at Nisqually John Landing was completely contained the morning of Sunday, June 16, with no structures lost.

According to a final update from Sunday, June 16, all roads were opened and Snake River was opened.

Firefighters were called to battle a canyon fire on Wawawai Road near Nisqually John Landing at approximately 8:38 a.m., Friday, June 14, approximately 7 miles southwest of the town of Colton.

According to a press release from the State Fire Marshall's Office, state fire assistance was mobilized under the Washington State Fire Resource Mobilization Plan for the Nisqually Fire on June 14.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 1:30 p.m. on June 14, at the request of Whitman County Fire District 14, Fire Chief Jay Reisenauer, states the press release.

Firefighters could be seen watching and communicating with air support along Wawawai Road.

District 14 Deputy Fire Chief Nick Bell said that there was no determined cause of the fire.

"A county wide mutual aide call was made for assistance," said Bell, noting that it was zero percent contained as of 12:30 p.m., June 14, and was an estimated 200 to 300 acres burning.

According to the press release, the Nisqually Fire started at approximately 8:38 a.m. and was estimated at 750 acres and growing as of the evening of June 14.

An updated report from June 16, states that the fire was 1,221 acres and the cause is still under investigation.

"It is burning grass and brush and threatening homes, crops, and infrastructure," states the press release, "Level 3 evacuations are in effect at this time." The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

According to reports, Whitman County Sheriff's Office, Clarkston Fire, Asotin County Fire, Pullman Fire, Moscow Fire, and Whitman County Fire Districts 4, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 responded at 8:25 a.m. to the fire on Friday, June 14.

According to public record, Friday, June 14 at 9:21 p.m. Sheriff's Deputy Randy Miller responded in a marine unit to provide security in the water for air support units fighting the wildland fire.

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray was activated at Level 3, monitoring. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau ordered one strike team, hand crews and air resources. The fire was managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team. State Fire Marshal's Office personnel were en route to the scene and worked remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.

On Friday, June 14, Bell said that they closed the river and the roads.

Drivers were encouraged to avoid Wawawai Road and Steptoe Canyon Road if at all possible. Bell said that the water access on the Snake River was shut down in the area for air resources to get to the water.

"Our biggest benefit right now is House Bill 1498," said Bell "First year with access to air resources right away."

The bill, which was passed last year, became a law on July 27, 2023, which made it accessible to be used to get resources quickly on the June 14 Nisqually John Fire.

Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization, states the press release.

According to the press release, the Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions.

Bell said there were three helicopters and multiple planes for air assistance. "An air attack all made available by the house bill," Bell said.