Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Dayton resident Juno Kerr found herself too close for comfort to the Harting Grade Fire early on July 25. Unaware of the fire, she, a few family members, and friends had to pass through the emergency response on their way home from swimming at the end of S. Touchet Road. After making it home safely, Kerr took advantage of her view (safely across the valley) to take a series of stunning photos, including the photo of the state's air support.
DAYTON - The Harting Grade Fire was first reported around 4 p.m. on Friday, July 25, less than three miles from Dayton. After burning 336 acres, the fire was contained on Sunday, July 27. Acting Columbia County Fire District 3 Fire Chief Michael Field requested that the Washington State Fire Marshal implement the Fire Service Resource Mobilization Plan to provide resources to assist local firefighters, including air support.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office contacted residents on S. Touchet, restricted traffic to the area, and shut traffic on 4th St. at 5:40 p.m. It issued a Level 2 evacuation order at 7 p.m., instructing residents in the area to be ready to evacuate with their possessions and livestock.
Later in the evening, the Washington State Patrol's Office of the Fire Marshal posted on its website that a Level 3 evacuation was issued for residents to leave immediately.
Field told the Union-Bulletin that the Level 3 notices were only for an area without buildings or inhabited. Although evacuations did not reach a Level 3 for populated areas, many residents and livestock left the area from 4th St. to Harting Grade, according to Matt Spring, Chief of the CWWFD#2 in Waitsburg. Spring's department joined others from Columbia and Walla Walla counties to assist Columbia County Fire District #3.
The sheriff's office lifted all evacuation levels in Dayton on Sunday, July 27.
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