Winds spread fire nearly 1,000 acres

CLARKSTON-A 25-acre fire that had been contained has now spread across about 1,000 acres after overnight winds picked up. As of this morning, Monday August 17, the fire was zero percent contained.

The original fire started off a motor home that caught fire on Wawawai Road, across the Snake River from Chief Timothy Park, about 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Whitman County Fire District 14 responded as did Asotin County and Clarkston.

The Chief Timothy Fire had been contained and then a thunder cell entered the area and winds picked up, according to Whitman County Emergency Management Director Bill Tensfeld. Winds reactivated and spread the fire.

State resources have been called in, including a helicopter which is dropping water on the blaze.

Wawawai Road and Steptoe Canyon Road have been closed due to the fire. According to Tensfeld, two residents were evacuated last night, but have been allowed to return.

According to a state release, the Chief Timothy Fire is burning in grass and trees and is threatening rangeland and fencing.