CLARKSTON, Wash. — A wildfire burning about 10 miles west of Clarkston along U.S. Highway 12 led to escalating evacuations as crews from across the region worked the fire.
According to an Asotin County Fire District #1 Facebook post, the fire was burning in Asotin and Garfield counties after someone passing by spotted it near mile marker 423. The post said wind pushed the fire uphill through steep and rocky ground, so crews brought in dozers and aircraft.
The fire later moved across a ridge and toward homes along Westlake Drive. Evacuation notices rose from Level 1 to Level 2 and then to Level 3 as conditions changed.
Asotin County Fire Chief Noel Hardin requested state mobilization, which was approved at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. A fire management team and more firefighters were expected to arrive Wednesday.
Firefighters from valley departments responded along with crews from Garfield County Fire, Whitman County Fire District 14, Moscow Fire Department and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Aircraft were expected to work above the fire Wednesday and boaters were asked to avoid the area. Drivers on Highway 12 were also urged to slow down and stay alert with fire crews and emergency vehicles working nearby.
No injuries or damaged structures had been reported as of early Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire had not been determined.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.