Grant County, Oregon – A wildfire in Central Washington state is getting stronger, and threatening homes and businesses. The wildfire’s causing evacuation orders and threatening homes in Grant County near Mattawa. State fire assistance is joining with the local firefighters on what they’re calling the Powerline Fire, burning in grass and sagebrush. It started on July 14th, and it’s grown to five thousand acres, threatening homes, crops, feedlot and buildings. Overnight the threat level reduced, but 15 homes and businesses are under orders to be ready to evacuate. Investigators are trying to figure out what sparked it.

Read more:  State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Powerline Fire located in Grant County near Mattawa.  The Powerline Fire is currently burning in grass and sagebrush.  Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 14, 2019, at 7:00 pm at the request of Fire Chief David Patterson, Grant County Fire District 8.

The Powerline Fire started on July 14, 2019, at approximately 12:38 pm.  This fire is estimated at 5,000 acres and growing.  It is threatening homes, crops, feedlot, and infrastructure.  Level 1 and 3 evacuations are in effect at this time.  The fire cause is under investigation.

Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered four strike teams.  The fire will be managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team.

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray is activated to Level 2 to coordinate state assistance for the Powerline Fire.  State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are en route to the scene to coordinate dispatch of resources.

Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization.  The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions.

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