WHITMAN COUNTY, Wash. — Fire restrictions in Whitman County were lowered Sunday evening, adjusting evacuation levels for residents in the affected areas as firefighting crews strengthened containment lines against the Lyons Ferry Fire and three related fires, according to the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team.
Residents from Hooper to Flemming Road are under Level 2 (GET SET) evacuation orders—be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Level 1 (GET READY) evacuations remain in effect for Highway 127 to Central Ferry, including Dusty. All evacuation levels around LaCosse have been removed.
The Lyons Ferry Fire has consumed 34,166 acres since igniting July 16 around 3:39 a.m., according to the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team. The fire’s cause remains under investigation but is classified as natural.
Three additional fires—Devil’s Canyon (4,747 acres), Wallace Walker (798 acres) and Neff Jones (7,123 acres)—are burning in the region.
The Lyons Ferry Fire stands at 28% containment, while Devil’s Canyon has reached 95%, Wallace Walker is at 90% and Neff Jones is at 88%, according to incident officials. Crews focused Sunday’s efforts on a feedlot on the north side, using water and manually turning dirt to cool the landscape.
According to the incident management team, only two people sustained burn injuries and were treated and released. No structures have been damaged.
All roads and parks within the fire area have reopened as of Sunday, including Lyons Ferry State Park, Palouse Falls State Park and the Snake River Junction Trailhead.
Contact the Fire Information line at 509-281-4627 or email 2026.lyonsferry@firenet.gov.
Updates are available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sewaimt/ and on Inciweb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.
