ANATONE, WA – Fire crews are working hard to contain the Cougar Creek Fire, which is burning about 26 miles southwest of Clarkston in Asotin County. Tia Villagomez, owner of Boggan’s Oasis on the Grande Ronde River, says they are trying to prevent the 540-acre fire from hopping Cougar Creek and the drainage area to the east, where it is currently “raging.”
“Anxiously awaiting what the weather system [is] “expected” to be bringing this way (wind and dry [lightning]),” the resort’s Facebook says. “Helicopters are dumping buckets filled with Grande Ronde water. Air Support is on the way with dump planes from the Snake. Fire crews are climbing the cliffs and steep hill[s] with shovels to attack specific spots.”
It is a Type 3 Incident Management Team fire, but Villagomez says it will easily become a Type 1 if it crosses the drainage, and larger crews will be called.
“If they can keep it contained where it is (between [Wenatchee] creek, Grande Ronde River and Cougar Creek) [then] it should remain a small 1000ish acres. If it crosses, we were told that it has tremendous potential to be out of control fast,” Boggan’s says.
Approximately 20 people live in the area of the fire, where temperatures have ranged from 106° to 117° for the last several days, Villagomez says, adding that many of them have been helping Blue Mountain Fire District and Washington Department of Natural Resources personnel stop the fire from spreading, especially after the air resources had to stop operations when it got dark last night.
Villagomez says they have offered fire crews the use of their accommodations. If anyone would like to donate water or snacks, they can be dropped off at Boggan’s Oasis on the Grande Ronde River.
Photos and video courtesy of Boggan’s Oasis on the Grande Ronde River.
