The 243 Command Fire was a wildfire that burned near Wanapum Dam in Grant County, Washington, in the United States. The fire started on June 3, 2019, and was reported 85% contained as of June 10, 2019. The fire burned a total of 20,380 acres (8,247 ha) and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
| 243 Command Fire | |
|---|---|
 Footprint of the 243 Command Fire | |
| Date(s) | June 3, 2019 – June 7, 2019 |
| Location | near Wanapum Dam, Grant County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 46°52′08″N 119°53′53″W / 46.869°N 119.898°W |
| Statistics[1] | |
| Burned area | 20,380 acres (8,247 ha) |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Map | |
  Location in Washington | |
Fire
editThe 243 Command Fire started on the evening of June 3, 2019, near Wanapum Dam and Highway 243.[1] The fire moved east into Lower Crab Creek Canyon, growing to 9,000 acres (3,642 ha) within nine hours.[1][2] Evacuation orders were put in place for approximately 25 homes near Smyrna.[2] Fire crews contained the fire between the canyon's southern and northern ridges by creating a wide, cool outer ring, with no burnable material, to help contain the fire's footprints and remaining hot spots. Mop up and environmental rehab operations began on June 6 with the fire at 85% containment. It burned a total of 20,380 acres (8,247 ha).[1]
Impact
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Approximately 25 homes near Smyrna were placed under mandatory evacuation due to the fast growth of the fire. Power lines and local infrastructure suffered damaged as the result of the fire, including irrigation infrastructure on local farmland.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "243 Command Fire". Incident Information. InciWeb. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ a b c Araradian, Armen (11 June 2019). "#243 Fire that scorched over 20,000 acres could become the new normal". KLEW. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Forest Service.
External links
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Media related to 243 Command Fire at Wikimedia Commons