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The State Of Northwest Fires At The Beginning Of The Week

Courtesy of Idaho Fire Map

Wildfire season has intensified in the Inland Northwest, with the central Idaho mountains and the area where Washington, Oregon, and Idaho meet as the hot spots.In the latter, the Snake River complex of fires has burned more than 54,000 acres on the Idaho side of Snake River as it forms the border with Washington. It is 0% contained.

The Shovel Creek fire is part of that Snake River complex. It is burning in grass and timber and is threatening structures.

The Dry Gulch fire has covered about 47,000 acres of tall grass, brush and timber near Asotin in southeastern Washington. It was caused by lightning on Wednesday. Six outbuildings have burned. The fires is threatening 450 homes, 20 multiple residences and 50 other minor structures. Some residents in the area were required to leave home Saturday night.

Burning near Dry Gulch is the Silcott fire, which has charred about 8,600 acres, also near Asotin. It too was sparked by lightning on Wednesday. Crews have it 80% contained and working on getting it mopped up.

To the west, two timber and grass fires, dubbed the Green Ridge fire, are burning about 175 acres in steep terrain about 30 miles east of Walla Walla on the Pomeroy Ranger District. It was also sparked by lightning on Wednesday. It is threatening five homes. Fire officials say helicopters and air tankers have helped to slow the spread of those fires.

Across the border to the south, fire crews have nearly contained the Joseph Canyon fire in northeastern Oregon. It has burned about 7,600 acres. Also in northeastern Oregon, the Dry Creek fire is nearly contained. It has burned about 1,600 acres.

In central Washington, the Burbank grass fire has charred about 7,000 acres about 11 miles northeast of Yakima. It began on Saturday and is about 50% contained.

The Batterman Road fire near East Wenatchee, which was the largest in Washington late last week, is fully contained. It has burned about 14,000 acres.

Also in central Washington, the Whitehall fire has burned about 800 acres of grass about 18 miles southwest of Coulee City.

West of Spokane, the Andrus fire is fully contained. It burned 232 acres. An interagency team from northeastern Washington has disbanded and handed over control of the mop-up to a team from Spokane County Fire District 3 and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

In north Idaho, Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials say more than 30 fires were sparked by lightning on Wednesday. Seven are part of the Trestle Creek fire complex. Several of those merged. The complex now includes five fires, which have burned 165 acres in steep terrain about seven miles north of Hope, Idaho. They are 0% contained. A team from Nevada is leading the response.

The Graham Mountain fire north of Kellogg is in mop-up mode. It has burned 15 acres in steep, remote terrain.