Area fires grow as heat, smoke linger in Spokane region
Several wildfires continued to burn in the Spokane region Wednesday as lingering heat and drought challenged firefighting efforts. Here’s an update on the regional wildfires:
Chuweah Creek Fire
A fire that started Monday near Nespelem continued to move east as it threatened several homes, tribal facilities at the Colville Indian Agency and outbuildings.
The fire grew to over 21,000 acres and was 20% contained as of Wednesday evening.
Officials set a Level 3 evacuation order for Owhi Flats along Cache Creek Road, as well as for residents of the town of Nespelem and the Colville Indian Agency. This means “go now” for anyone living in these areas.
Red Apple Fire
A fire that started burning north of Wenatchee in Chelan County grew to 9,000 acres as of Wednesday night, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources said on its social media.
The blaze started Tuesday morning and prompted Level 3 evacuation orders for every resident on the east side of Burch Mountain Road and Ohme Garden Road. This means residents were to leave immediately.
Level 2 evacuations were issued for Swakane, everything north of American Fruit Road, everything north of Easy Street to Highway 2, all of Burch Mountain Road, as well as for residents in Warner and Nahahum canyons. This means residents needed to prepare to leave.
Level 1 evacuations were ordered for everything south of American Fruit Road and everything on Easy Street from Burch Mountain Road to Highway 2, meaning residents needed to be aware of danger in the area. Detailed evacuation orders could be found on the Chelan County Emergency Management Facebook page.
Trestle Creek Complex
Six merged fires have burned around 7 miles north of Hope, Idaho.
The fires reached 246 acres and most were fully contained as of Wednesday evening, though officials said the sixth fire would pose the biggest challenge in firefighting efforts.
- Trestle 1: 27 acres, 50% contained
- Trestle 2: 1 acre, 100% contained
- Trestle 3: 8 acres, 100% contained
- Trestle 5: 0.25 acres, 100% contained
- Trestle 6: 210 acres, 0% contained
Officials kept the road at Trestle Creek Road and Lightning Creek Road closed as of Wednesday evening.
As crews worked on the blazes, they said the fires had not changed much Wednesday.
Joe Moses Road Fire
Level 2 evacuation orders for a 40-acre fire near Nespelem were set for anyone living on Joe Moses Road on Wednesday. Authorities also closed the intersection at Buffalo Lake Road and Joe Moses Road.
Character Complex
Fires previously known as the Deceitful and Prichard fires merged into a 2,336-acre fire as it burned near the Coeur d’Alene River on Wednesday.
Officials announced on Wednesday they would hold a community meeting for an update about these fires at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Murray Volunteer Fire Department. Those who could not attend would be allowed to view a Facebook livestream of the meeting when it aired on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s social media page.
Leland Complex
Fires previously known as the Sand Mountain, Pine Creek and Bonami fires merged into the Leland Complex. The Sand Mountain fire was the largest at 1,000 acres and 0% containment as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Pine Creek fire was 75% contained and reached 564 acres. The Bonami Fire was the smallest at 6 acres and 80% containment.