Wildfire — Moses Lake Area, Washington

2019-06-03 to 2019-06-08 · Moses Lake Area, Washington

Event narrative

The 243 Command Fire started June 3, near Highway 243 and Wanapum Dam. Breezy winds pushed the fire easterly through the Lower Crab Creek Canyon. The fire crews were able to contain it between the canyon's northern and southern ridges. The fire burned 20,380 acres of range land.

Wider weather episode

The Columbia Basin of eastern Washington is a dry basin under the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains. Consequently this area is an open range land of grass and sage which quickly dries out and becomes vulnerable to wildfire from late spring through early autumn. Breezy downslope winds off of the nearby Cascade mountains are common and promote rapid spreading of wildfires in the basin.

The 243 Command Fire started on Monday night, June 3, near Highway 243 and Wanapum Dam. Winds pushed the fire easterly through the Lower Crab Creek Canyon of southern Grant County. Fire crews were able to contain it between the canyon's northern and southern ridges. The fire burned 20,380 acres of mostly range and scrub land. No structure or homes were lost but some power lines and infrastructure were lost. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 832894. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.