Single Publication

Big Horn Fire Update 

10:00 PM, July 26, 2024

Estimated size: 49,585 acres

Containment: 38%

Start Date/Time: 7/22/2024 at 1:07 PM

Area of Origin: 7 miles SE of Bickleton, WA

Cause: Undetermined                                                                 

Structures Damaged: 4

Update: Today brought progress in management of the fire and surrounding areas. In coordination with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Highway 14 was reopened to traffic at 7:00 PM. Travelers are reminded that this is still an active fire area, use caution and reduce speed as firefighters are still working in the area.

Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management lowered evacuation levels this evening at 6:00 PM.  The Level 3 evacuation notice has been reduced to a Level 2.

Today crews continued improving containment lines on the fire perimeter.  This included starting mop up in several areas. More favorable weather brought cooler temperatures and reduced winds, helping keep the fire in the existing boundaries. For tonight’s shift, firefighters will continue to mop up and monitor the fire line. 

Evacuation Levels: Evacuation levels changed at 6:00 PM. Please visit Klickitat County Emergency Management’s website or check Facebook for the most current information:

• https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management
• https://www.facebook.com/KlickitatDEM911

Road Closures: The west-bound shoulder of SR 14 will be closed, please drive with caution as firefighters are working in the area. East Road remains closed from the Town of Bickleton south to Middle Road. Alderdale Road from Linda Lane south to the intersection of Highway 14 remains closed. 

Community Meeting: Tomorrow, Saturday July 27th, 2024, Klickitat County Emergency Management and Southeast Washington Incident Management Team will host a community meeting at 2:00 PM.

Mercer Ranches Inc. – Conference Room 

46 West Sonova Road

Patterson, WA 99345

Weather and Fire Behavior: Cooler temperatures and lower winds today and for the next few days will reduce fire behavior probability. 

Smoke: Satellite imagery shows large swaths of smoke across the region.  With the large number of fires in the Pacific NW and continued westerly flow, smoke impacts should be expected in central and eastern Washington through the weekend. New Air Quality Alerts are in place for Klickitat, Benton, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin counties. If you are near fire locations, please stay up to date on evacuation orders.

While there are no current air quality alerts for Klickitat County, communities close to active wildfires could see air quality worsen as the fire and wind conditions change. Critical fire weather continues across Central and Eastern Washington; please continue to recreate responsibly as any fire starts could spread quickly. For more information on smoke and air quality, please visit: Washington Smoke Information (wasmoke.blogspot.com)

Shelter: An American Red Cross Shelter in neighboring Benton County that is currently assisting individuals and families that are displaced by the fire, will be closing tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

Patterson Elementary School

51409 Prior Ave

Patterson, WA 99345

Resources: 35 engines, 12 water tenders, 1 helicopter, 1 UAS module, 5 dozers, 1 tractor and disk, 4 hand crews, 212 personnel total.

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