Nespelem Creek fire burns 200 acres trees/grass

A fire burned 200 acres in trees and grass north of Nespelem on Monday. 

The Nespelem Creek Fire started at about noon on April 4 according to Public Information Officer Kathy Moses of the Mount Tolman Fire Center. 

She said gusts of wind knocked down a tree, which knocked down power lines, causing a power outage, sparking up dry grass and starting a wildfire in a field that threatened one home in the area. 

Wind gusts were at 27 miles per hour, pushing the wildfire through a field of tall grass. 

The fire is now contained, she said Tuesday, with 17 firefighters getting it under control and continuing to patrol the area.

The effort to contain the fire included a hand crew, one dozer, four engines, and three overhead personnel including the incident commander.

“Recently, Nespelem has been threatened by the 2020 Green House Fire, 2021 Chuweah Fire and now the 2022 Nespelem Creek Fire,” Moses said, then noting the 2015 North Star/Tunk Block fire, as well.