GCFD 7 receives funding for firefighting equipment

Aug. 19 — SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 has received two firefighter grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security totaling nearly $773,000. A news release from the department said the grants are highly competitive.

The first grant of $259,000 is for a self-contained breathing apparatus, which are backpacks that firefighters wear on their backs and that contain firefighting air to ensure firefighters can breathe while fighting building fires, vehicle fires and hazardous materials incidents.

GCFD 7 used a breathing apparatus for which parts were no longer available due to the age of the device and the manufacturer having discontinued operations. In 2023, GCFD 7 retired all of its devices due to safety concerns. Since then, the district has been borrowing devices from another fire department. The devices were still old, but in usable condition.

The second grant was for nearly $514,000 for a new pumper to replace a 1973 vehicle that poses a safety hazard to firefighters. The funds will be used to purchase a new 3,000-gallon pumper with a 1,000-GPM pump that can pump and pump. It will be the district’s first and only custom-built pumper; the others are small and used for wildfires.

The addition of this pump will enable GCFD Unit 7 to respond to fires in its area of ​​operation and surrounding areas as mutual aid partners with other areas of operation.

The press release said it will also improve the Fire Districts Washington Survey and Ratings Board rating, which will save taxpayers money on property insurance premiums.

Major fires in Washington:

Retreat Fire: The largest active fire in Washington was 45,600 acres and was 10% contained from Thursday to Saturday, now 80% contained. The fire started at 4 p.m. July 14 about 14 miles southeast of Naches. It is burning 339 people.

Pioneer Fire: The second-largest active fire in Washington state was burning Saturday at 38,700 acres and 23% contained, 5% better than Thursday. The fire started around 1 p.m. June 8 and is located 10 miles southwest of Stehekin. The fire was extinguished Thursday by 635 crews.

Cougar Creek Fire: The third-largest fire in Washington state has burned 24,100 acres and was 75% contained Saturday, 15% better than Thursday. The fire broke out about 8 p.m. July 15 about 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 129 and the Grand Ronde River, south of Walla Walla. There were 272 crews at the scene.

New fires in Washington:

No new fires were reported in the state on Saturday.

One new fire was brought under control on Saturday.

Wolf Fork Fire: 130 acres. 100% contained. Started at 2 p.m. Aug. 5 and was contained by 10 a.m. Saturday. Located in Columbia County.

Other fires:

Easy Fire: 2,100 acres. 29% containment. Started at 8:00 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. 300 workers.

Flat Creek Fire: 40 acres. 0% contained. Started Friday. Located in Chelan County near Flat Creek. Crew size undetermined.

Jupiter/2620 Road Fire: 162 acres. 0 contained. Started at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday. Located west of Brinnon. 162 personnel.

Kachess Complex: Consists of three fires. Staeve Creek Fire: 12.1 acres, 35% contained. Thomas Fire: 9 acres, 95% contained. Waptus Fire 0.5 acres, 100% contained. Started August 9. Located in the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. 155 people.

Lodgepole Fire: 35 acres. 6% contained. Started 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12. Located 16 miles W of Cliffdell. 47 people on fire.

Miners Complex Fires: 1,100 acres. 0% containment. Started July 17. Located 21 miles east of Darrington. Fire crew details unavailable.

Pincer Two Fire: 190 acres. 0% containment. Started July 18. Located one mile east of Mineral Park. 15 people.

Ruby Fire: 820 acres. 0% containment. Started at 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. 88 personnel.

Shoofly Fire: 104 acres. 63% contained. Ignited July 8. Located nine miles north of Stevens Pass. No crew information available.

Williams Mine Fire: 11,600 acres. 2% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 272 ​​employees.

Other fires reported statewide burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. Most are less than 1 acre.

The threat of wildfires in the Columbia Basin remains very high. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office asked area residents to be cautious about any activities that could cause a wildfire.

Air quality was moderate in British Columbia on Saturday.

SOURCES: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow