As the summer heat begins, fire crews from Lewis and Thurston counties have been deployed to wildfires across the state.
On July 8 and 9, firefighters from Lewis County Fire District 5 in Napavine and the West Thurston Fire Authority were mobilized by Washington state as part of the state's wildfire mobilization plan. Teams from both departments were assigned to the Hope Fire in Northeast Washington near Kettle Falls while one additional team from West Thurston Fire reported to the Toonerville Fire in north Mason County.
According to a Facebook post from Lewis County Fire District 5, the department sent one small truck and three firefighters to the Hope Fire. The team posted an update Wednesday updating the community that they had been assigned to the structure division and will be helping to protect existing structures near the fire.
In a similar Facebook post from West Thurston Fire, the department notified their community that they had mobilized three engines and their teams to wildfires, with two going to the Hope Fire and one headed for the Toonerville Fire.
According to the FireWeatherAvalanche.org website that tracks the status of wildfires and other natural disasters, the Hope Fire has grown to approximately 6,700 acres and is uncontained. A recent update from The Spokesman-Review in Spokane reported that the fire has reached the Columbia River but has not jumped to the other bank. It has claimed two primary residences. About 476 people, as well as helicopters and airtankers, are responding to the fire.
The Toonerville Fire in Mason County is also uncontained and currently burning at just under 100 acres.
