Fire Growth Across Region Slowing Down

SPOKANE – Most of the fires across central and northeast Washington slowed down on Saturday as calm winds and more crews have helped keep growth in check.

The largest fire in the state, the Badger Mountain Fire north of East Wenatchee, has now burned 8,800 acres, having made a strong advance to the northwest on Friday night.  Thirty families were evacuated north of Lincoln Rock State Park, but crews were able to stop the flames before they got to any homes.  It is listed as being 50 percent contained.

The other major fire in Douglas County, the Browns Mountain fire near Orondo, has burned 4,200 acres so far, but is now 70 percent contained.  No structures are threatened by the blaze.

The advance of the Cayuse Fire, east of Tonasket, was slowed in the overnight hours.  It has burned 1,500 acres and is 40 percent contained.  Crews say that the fire has gone into an area that was part of a prescribed burn in 2000, and that has all but stopped the fire’s advance.

Okanogan County’s other large fire, the French Valley Fire southeast of Omak, is 50 percent contained.  It has burned 1,000 acres on land in the Colville Indian Reservation.  It slowed quickly after moving into an old burn area.

The Doyle Creek Complex, on the Ferry-Stevens county line, is now around 1,000 acres, as rugged terrain stymied efforts to contain the fire.  It is 15 percent contained, but had destroyed 10 buildings.  The complex of three fires is growing slowly, allowing crews to gain ground on fighting the fires.

The other large fire in Ferry County, the Abraham Canyon Fire, has burned 277 acres on the east side of the Colville Indian Reservation northwest of Inchelium.  It is 40 percent contained and isn’t threatening any structures.  But the steep terrain in the area is making it difficult for crews to fight the fire.