Gray Fire
LocationNear Medical Lake, Spokane County, Washington, US
Coordinates47°32′24″N 117°43′52″W / 47.54000°N 117.73111°W / 47.54000; -117.73111
Statistics
Cost$60 million (2023 USD)[1]
Date(s)August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18) – September 11, 2023
Burned area10,085 acres (4,081 ha)[1]
CauseHuman causes[1]
Deaths1[1]
Map

The Gray Fire was a wildfire in Spokane County, Washington, United States.[1] It began near Medical Lake at about 12:27 pm on August 18, 2023. As of September 1, 2023, the fire had burned 10,085 acres (4,081 ha) and was 100% contained. In addition to burning 259 structures, the death of one person was determined to be connected to the fire.[2][3][4][5]

History

August

The Gray Fire began near Medical Lake at about 12:27 pm on August 18, 2023. The following day it grew to 9,500 acres (3,800 ha). That same day the fire reached 10% containment.[2][3][6]

On August 20, the burned area reached 10,014 acres (4,053 ha), while containment remained at 10%.[2][7]

On August 22, containment increased to 48% (mainly due in part to the rain that day which allowed authorities to evaluate damage to structures), while the burned area slightly increased to 10,016 acres (4,053 ha).[8] Later the same day all evacuations in Medical Lake were lowered to Level 2 with only one area in the unincorporated area of Four Lakes still under a Level 3 evacuation.[9] [10]

On August 24, containment further increased to 58%. Interstate 90 was re-opened on both sides. Washington State Route 904 and Washington State Route 902 were also re-opened that same day. [11]

On August 25, containment increased to 68%.

On August 26, containment increased to 73% and the burned area only grew to 10,085 acres (4,081 ha).

On August 27, containment reached 85% while the burned area remained the same.

September

On September 1, fire containment reached to 97% with the burned area remaining the same. Later that day, containment reached to 100% [12][13]

Cause

The cause of the Gray Fire is suspected to be a faulty Inland Power and Light Company outdoor light. On September 26, 2023, two lawsuits had been filed against Inland Power and Light Company due to the devastation.[14]

Impact

Closures and evacuations

Level 3 evacuation orders were issued for the city of Medical Lake and the unincorporated community of Four Lakes on August 18. Level 2 evacuations were also issued for the city of Cheney that same day. An evacuation shelter was opened at Spokane Falls Community College. National Guard troops were also called in to help evacuate patients and staff from Eastern State Hospital, a large psychiatric facility in Medical Lake.[15]

Interstate 90 from milepost 257 to milepost 270 and the entirery of State Route 902 were closed on August 18 due to the fire.[2][16][17]

Damage

By August 21, the fire had burned 265 structures and one person died due to the fire. Another person also died from the nearby Oregon Fire.[18] Additionally at least 850 mixed residential buildings were threatened by the fire.[3][4]

Air Pollution

Smoke primarily from wildfires burning in Canada, as well as the Gray Fire and two other fires in Spokane County caused Spokane, Washington to have the worst air quality in the United States for two days, on August 19 and August 20. Air quality index levels reached a peak level of 511 in Spokane in the morning of August 20.[19]

Political

In response to the Gray Fire and 2 other fires, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners issued a county-wide state of emergency declaration for Spokane County allowing state and federal assistance to come into Spokane County.[20] Washington Governor Jay Inslee also issued a state of emergency for the fires which allows further assistance along with the activation of the Washington National Guard to assist in containment of the fires.[2][3][21]

On August 20, the Washington state government's request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved. The grant provides federal funds primarily to help with various firefighting costs.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI); National Weather Service (NWS); Spokane County emergency management (18 December 2023). "Washington Event Report: Wildfire" (Report). Storm Events Database. Asheville, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gray Fire". InciWeb. 2023-08-19. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Medical Lake wildfire has burned 185 structures and 9,500 acres. It is 10% contained". The Spokesman-Review. August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "NWCC :: Home". 2023-08-20. Archived from the original on 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  5. ↑ "More than 250 structures destroyed in Gray Fire". krem.com. August 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  6. ↑ Saglimbeni, Vincent (2023-08-19). "According to DNR, Gray Fire now 10% contained". KXLY kxly.com. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  7. ↑ "Gray Fire burns 10,014 acres in Medical Lake, prompting level 3 evactuations". NonStop Local KHQ. 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  8. ↑ "Wanes Gray Fire Information | InciWeb". 2023-08-22. Archived from the original on 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  9. ↑ Wixey, Will (2023-08-22). "Gray Fire evacuations downgraded again, two suspected looters arrested". KXLY kxly.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  10. ↑ "Gray fire: Rain brings relief to fire lines as residents return home | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  11. ↑ "Single Publication". InciWeb. 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  12. ↑ "Single Publication". InciWeb. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  13. ↑ Saglimbeni, Vincent (2023-09-01). "FIREWATCH: Gray Fire in Medical Lake has destroyed 240 homes, 97% contained". KXLY kxly.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  14. ↑ Epperly, Emma (September 26, 2023). "Separate lawsuits allege Inland Power caused Gray fire". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state". AP News. 2023-08-19. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  16. ↑ Medina, Eduardo; Ives, Mike (August 18, 2023). "Wildfire Prompts Evacuations and Warnings in Washington State". The New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Gray Fire | Level 3 evacuations expanded, state of emergency declared". krem.com. August 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  18. ↑ "2nd person found dead in eastern Washington wildfires, hundreds of structures burned". Associated Press. August 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Spokane records worst air quality in the United States for 2nd day in a row". krem.com. August 19, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  20. ↑ Producer, Alexa Teneyck, NonStop Local Digital (2023-08-19). "Spokane County Board of Commissioners approved county-wide state of emergency". NonStop Local KHQ. Retrieved 2023-08-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ "State of emergency declared by Gov. Inslee for Spokane County wildfires". krem.com. August 19, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  22. ↑ "FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight the Gray and Oregon Fires in Washington | FEMA.gov". www.fema.gov. 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
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