CLE ELUM, Wash. -- The most devastating fire to strike Central Washington in decades has finally been officially and fully contained.
The Taylor Bridge Fire east of Cle Elum destroyed dozens of homes, took 16 days to contain and involved more than 1,000 firefighters at its height. Forty firefighters and other staff will continue to monitor the burn area to douse any hot spots.
Meanwhile, mop-up operations also continue at the Diamond Butte Fire, which was earlier declared contained. It is burning in an area of the closed section of the Yakama reservation. Two areas of the Ahtanum State Forest west of Tampico, which have been closed because of the firefighting operations, have been reopened.
Ahtanum Meadows and Ahtanum Campground will be reopened at 5 p.m. today. Those two sites were closed Aug. 22. The Middle Fork Road, which leads to Tree Phones Campground and Whites Ridge Trailhead, remains closed, but will be open from 6 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday. It will be closed Labor Day.
That fire was started by lightning Aug. 19 and burned an estimated 285 acres in a heavily forested area. Command for the fire shifted from the state agencies to local fire departments Wednesday. But several state or federal agencies will continue to work with local firefighters to ensure that the fire stays within containment lines as mop-up continues.
The Taylor Bridge Fire started Aug. 13 at a bridge construction site on State Route 10. Fed by dry fuel and pushed by strong winds, it quickly spread, burning more than 36 square miles or about 23,500 acres. Authorities say the fire destroyed 61 homes and 35 outbuildings, and damaged seven other structures.
Before declaring the fire contained, firefighters used handheld infrared devices to sweep for remaining hot spots within 300 feet of fire lines and 100 feet of structures.
The fire won't be completely extinguished until significant rain or snow covers the area, fire officials say.
Copyright 2012 - Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
