"Elmer City Fire" burns nearly 2,000 acres north of town

A fire about 4.7 miles North of Elmer City burned approximately 1,979 acres Sunday, calling out 100 firefighters and nine aircraft and prompting the evacuation of 250 residents.

The fire around the Rebecca Lake area, the cause of which is still under investigation, started at about 3:47 p.m., according to a press release Monday from the Colville Tribes Department of Natural Resources. A fire map shows the point of origin close to SR-155 and indicates it was stopped at Buffalo Lake Road.

"The firefighters dealt with a wind-driven fire fueled by grass, sage, and bitter brush. A combination of dozer and hand-line was completed on the Elmer City Fire," tribal DNR said.

"Initial suppression efforts included building dozer lines to tie in with existing fire lines, and structure protection," the release states.

Aviation used included five Fire Boss airplanes, two Air Attack airplanes, and two helicopters.

About 250 residents in the areas of Rebecca Lake and Buffalo lake were placed under level 3 evacuation notice. That has since been lifted, and the roads reopened.

As of Tuesday evening, 90 percent of the fire was contained, reported the Northeast Washington Interagency Management Team on the fire. On Tuesday crews were establishing a 100-foot containment around the fire area, 200 feet around structures, using hand crews and wildland fire engines.

To fight the fire, coordination occurred between the Colville Confederated Tribes, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northeast Washington Interagency Communications Center, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Bureau of Reclamation, and local fire districts.

An initial estimate had put the fire area at 3,500 acres, but a more accurate measurement was made.