Via KQQQ:
Crews from the ground and air are attacking a large wildland canyon fire along the Snake River in Garfield County. The blaze was sparked by lightning early Saturday morning. The fire has torched over 2,500 acres and is mostly burning the canyon just across the river from Nisqually John Landing in Whitman County.
Garfield County Volunteer Firefighters initially responded to the blaze before state mobilization was issued on the fire Saturday morning. Several helicopters and airplanes dropped water on the canyon flames. Firefighters on the ground with engines and bulldozers worked to keep the flames away from structures and fields on the rim of the canyon. Crews have a fireline around a quarter of the blaze. The state mobilized firefighters have set up came at Pomeroy High School. The City of Pullman’s wildland firefighting brush truck and a crew were dispatched to help fight the blaze Saturday. A Whitman County Fire District 14 truck out of Colton-Uniontown was on scene of a chopper fire base set up at Nisqually John Landing.
This fire is burning a few miles upriver from last Summer’s massive Snake River Fire that burned both sides of the river. Fire officials are urging boaters in the Snake near Nisqually John to stay clear of aircraft as they dip into the water to fight the flames.