A wildfire known as the Snake River fire is burning in Whitman County, in southeastern Washington, and has expanded considerably in a short span of time. The blaze has become the focus of a growing firefighting effort as crews work to keep it from spreading further across the rural landscape.
The fire has grown rapidly in size. After starting at around 160 acres, it has since expanded to roughly 680 acres, a sharp increase that underscores how quickly conditions have allowed the flames to advance across the area.
In terms of location, the fire is burning about 8 miles northwest of Clarkston and roughly 20 miles south of Pullman. Its position in southeastern Washington places it near communities that are closely watching its progress as the response ramps up.
Additional help is on the way. Assistance from the state is being sent as part of a resource mobilization plan that has been activated at level two, bringing more crews and equipment to support the local response to the fire.
On the ground, fire districts in Whitman and Garfield counties have been fighting the blaze since Friday evening. The crews have been working through difficult conditions in an effort to slow the fire's spread and protect the surrounding area.
Containment, however, has proven difficult. Steep terrain has made access and firefighting an ongoing challenge, and the fire is currently listed at 0% contained, meaning crews have yet to establish control lines around any portion of its perimeter.