WHITE SWAN, Wash. –Federal funding was authorized to fight the West White Swan Fire on July 23.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the request for funding was approved due to the fact that the fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
The State of Washington requested the funding when the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of White Swan.
Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause major disasters and are funded by the President’s Disaster Relief Fund, according to a press release on the funding.
Original Coverage
Yakima Valley fire crews contained a wildfire that burned one home and put most of White Swan on evacuation notice late Monday night.
The fire began just after 5 p.m. on July 22 on Wesley Road and White Swan Road near the Yakama Forest Products log yard. According to a White Swan Community Center volunteer, an elder’s home was lost in the fire.
Yakima Valley Emergency Management announced Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations for the surrounding area including Branch, Stephenson and Fort Roads. Officials set Level 2 (GET SET) evacuations for the rest of the town. Those evacuations lasted nearly four hours.
To help with the firefighting, Pacific Power also enabled their emergency de-energization protocols, leaving 19 of their customers without power.
Yakama Nation Police told NonStop Local the fire was 75 percent contained at around 11 p.m. The current acreage of the fire in White Swan is unknown.
This is a developing story, which means information could change. We are working to report timely and accurate information as we get it.
