KLICKITAT COUNTY, Wash. — More than 500 firefighters have been brought in for a wildfire that as of 8 p.m., Monday, July 24, 2023, had burned nearly 52,000 acres in Klickitat County, Washington.

Allan Lebovitz, Washington State Wildland Fire and Forest Resiliency liaison, said 51,964 acres had been burned by the Newell Road Fire that started around 3:30 p.m. on Friday.

He said the grass, shrub and timber fire was in the vicinity of Goldendale and Roosevelt, approximately 95 miles west of Hermiston.

“It’s largely a fast-moving grass and shrub fire, but there is also timber involved and that is where the activity is currently,” he said.

Lebovitz said the fire began near Roosevelt and that its origin is under investigation.

He said it was the biggest fire in Washington as of July 24 and that there was no containment estimate available. However, Lebovitz said firefighters were feeling good about containment near Roosevelt.

“It was wind tested today with 40 mile per hour wind gusts in some areas, and it withstood the test, so we expect to increase the containment estimate soon,” he said.

Lebovitz said the fire went from 600 acres on July 21 to 50,000 acres on July 23, but now “it’s been largely contained within its current footprint.”

He said local, tribal, state and federal fire agencies had responded, as well as fire stations from other states. Lebovitz said the number of firefighters working the fire was around 530 along with 50 engines, nine bulldozers, nine hand crews and multiple aircrafts such as helicopters, scoopers and tankers.

He said at least three firefighters had been injured, but their injuries were not considered severe. He added that the fire had impacted farmland, wildlife, livestock and outbuildings. Lebovitz also said several residences had been lost, but those had not been verified because crews were working on suppressing the fire. He also said some historical structures had been affected, but details for those would not be available until the fire was under control.

He said the fire began in an area that threatened a solar plant, transfer station, the Roosevelt Landfill, the William Natural Gas Pipeline, as well as wind turbines.

“The initial attack forces were successful in protecting the landfill and the methane plant as well as the solar farm, and they suffered no damage,” Lebovitz said. “The wind turbines are within in the fire’s footprint, but we’ve heard of no damage to those turbines at this time.”

A town hall meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m., July 25 at Goldendale Middle School to update county residents. The meeting will also be streamed online.

“It’s important we bring the community together to help everyone understand what is being done to protect lives and property and prevent further damage as this wildfire grows,” said. Washington Rep. Gina Mosbrucker said in a press release. “We want to be available to answer questions and help inform residents of what they can expect and what they should be doing to protect themselves and their families.”

According to a KOMO News, the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office said the following areas were under evacuation orders:

Level 3 (Go now): Bickleton and Cleveland and some of the surrounding areas

The southwest portion of the fire that is in the lower Goodnoe Station area.

Level 2 (Get set) and Level 1 (Get ready): West of the current Level 3 evacuation zones (West of Rock Creek)

The sheriff’s office said Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation areas go about 5 miles west of the Level 3 evacuation line.

According to the Klickitat County Emergency Management, Highway 14 is closed from milepost 100 (intersection of Highway 14 & Highway 97) to milepost 180 (intersection of Highway 14 and I-82), except to local residents. Road closures also include Roosevelt Grade Road, Middle Road, Old Highway 8 north to and including Dot Road, the county agency states.

According to KOMO News, the Red Cross has established an emergency shelter in Goldendale Middle School at 520 E. Collins St., for those impacted by the fire. It also reported that a shelter for animals has been established at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds at 903 N. Fairground Road in Goldendale.