News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 25, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Mark Clemens, Emergency Management Division, 800-688- 8955

Gov. Locke calls out National Guard to fight wildfire

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today called up 650 members of the Washington National Guard to help fight a large wildfire that has consumed approximately 100,000 acres in Yakima and Klickitat counties.

At the governor's order, 500 Guard members were given fire training earlier this month as the wildfire threat mounted. They will begin front-line firefighting duties as soon as possible. The additional 150 Guard members will provide support services.

"This is a large, dangerous, fast-moving fire that already has caused at least $1 million in damage," Locke said. "More than 600 men and women have been fighting it since Wednesday and now we need to give them help urgently."

The governor noted conditions remain extremely dry in eastern Washington.

"We need to move quickly so we don't have the multiple wildfires that states such as Montana and Idaho are facing," Locke said. He noted other states cannot help Washington if fires here get out of control because they are fighting their own blazes.

In addition to preparing the National Guard to fight the fire, the governor on Aug. 11 ordered a halt to most outdoor burning to minimize the fire risk.

The fire burning in Yakima and Klickitat counties apparently began Wednesday night from one or more lightning strikes.

It has burned some 100,000 acres. More than 600 firefighters are on the scene along with 80 pieces of firefighting equipment. It is burning wheat fields and grasslands.

» Return to this month's News Releases
» View News Release Archive

Access Washington