State fire assistance mobilized for two wildfires burning in Washington

COLUMBIA AND GRANT COUNTIES — State fire assistance has been mobilized in support of local firefighters battling two wildfires in Washington.

The fires, the North Touchet Fire and the Black Rock Fire, are burning in Columbia County and Grant County, respectively.

North Touchet Fire in Columbia County

State firefighting assistance was mobilized to help battle the North Touchet Fire late Saturday night, around 10:45 p.m.

The fire near the town of Dayton, Washington, started on Saturday evening around 5 p.m., state officials said. The cause has not yet been determined. It has grown to an estimated 700 acres and is threatening 125 residences, timber and crops, officials said.

Level 3 evacuations are in place for 25 homes. One-hundred homes are under a Level 1 evacuation order as of 10 a.m. Sunday.

Black Rock Fire in Grant County

The Black Rock Fire in Grant County started around noon Saturday, near the town of Wilson Creek in Washington.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. The fire reached an estimated 28,000 acres and was threatening 25 homes, crops, livestock and sage grouse habitat on Sunday morning, officials said.

By Sunday evening, the fire was 40 percent contained and had been reduced to around 23,600 acres.

No evacuation orders are in effect.

+ Details on both of these wildfires will be added as they continue to come in. 

Cox Media Group