Editor’s note: We previously reported that all evacuations have been lifted. The information in this article has been corrected to reflect current information.
WHITE SWAN, Wash. – The Slide Ranch Fire in White Swan is now 75 percent contained.
According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) and the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team, the fire remains at 3,054 acres and crews continue to mop-up the perimeter and around structures to contain the fire.
Fire Information Officer Tim McKern says level 1 (BE READY) evacuations are still in place in White Swan.
The Interagency Management Team says the fire started at around 3:46 p.m. on Sat., June 22. Since then, the NWCC says a total of 17 homes have been lost in the fire with 10 others being damaged.
McKern says a perimeter has been set up around the fire. Crews from the Yakama Nation and Yakima Valley Fire District 5 will remain at the fire for the next several days.
The State of Washington has also requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from FEMA, which was approved. The grant covers staffing, equipment, meals, safety items and more.
McKern notes that smoke will continue to show up from the center of the fire for a few days.
The fire’s exact cause is unknown, though the NWCC reports that it was human caused.
According to Yakima Valley Emergency Management, a second fire is burning nearby between Tecumseh Road and Signal Peak Road heading toward Fort Road. It is unknown if this fire is related to the Slide Ranch Fire.
This is a developing story, which means information could change. We are working to report timely and accurate information as we get it.
