Oroville, Washington – 350-Acre Brush Fire Destroys One Outbuilding, Burns Near Homes and Other Structures

Oroville, Washington (July 3, 2019) – A brush fire burned through 350 acres of land on Wednesday afternoon, causing one outbuilding to be destroyed and threatening other homes and structures as it burned. However, fire crews were able to contain the fire, and were reported to be in the beginning stages of mopping up the fire by Thursday. There were no injuries reported in the incident.

According to officials and information from the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team, the Swanson Mill Fire was ignited around 1:42 p.m. Due to the wind and the topography of the land, the fire spread through sagebrush, bunchgrass and Ponderosa pines. Crews from several agencies constructed a fire line by using bulldozers and fire engines. Officials have stated that some hot spots still remain where the fire had burned. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

About Fire

Washington counts as the 5th state most prone to wildfire from 2017 wildfire risk analysis, and ranks 8th in a 2018 study by number of fires that happened. The US Fire Administration has recorded 15 home fire fatalities this year within Washington, showing the destruction fire is capable of doing. Even within city areas, one must be wary of fires that can happen near residential areas.

If your home is near an area with risk of brush fire, there are few safety reminders to keep in mind. Homeowners are urged to complete their spring cleaning, and to create a defensible space around the home by clearing trees and brush. Additionally, the limbs of trees should be cut to at least 15 feet off the ground. Any object that send out fires should be handled with absolute care. Common objects such as lit matches and cigarette butts can also easily cause a fire within dry brush. Should fire be used in an outdoor space, one must assess the surroundings to make sure fire would not have a possibility to spread out. While the fire is burning, it is imperative that it must be attended to and ensure that the blaze does not go out of control. Finally, before leaving an area where fire was used, one must ensure that any fires must be extinguished completely. Preventing brush fires from happening is everyone’s responsibility, and careful use of fire can ensure the safety of not only one’s self, but hundreds of others.

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