Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State officials: Berdoyne Fire 11,249 acres, 13% contained; dozens of structures affected and hundreds evacuated
Summary
State incident commanders and the governor said the Berdoyne Fire in Klickitat County has grown to 11,249 acres and is 13% contained. Officials reported roughly 900–1,000 evacuees, about 900 firefighters on the line, and an unofficial count of 44 structures lost; the cause remains under investigation.
Incident commanders and state officials briefed reporters at the fire line on the Berdoyne Fire, which they said has burned 11,249 acres and is 13% contained.
"Current fire size is, 11,249 acres, 13% contained," Incident Commander Brian Gales said, describing a multi-jurisdictional response that includes DNR hand crews, engine crews and aviation assets. He said about 900 firefighters are working the incident.
Officials listed priorities as protecting communities and infrastructure, private lands, timberland and tribal lands. Gales said incident teams completed a structure triage and identified 44 structures unofficially inside the fire footprint and are coordinating with homeowners and Klickitat County emergency management on recovery.
Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Up the Grove, who joined the briefing, thanked crews and emphasized prevention. "We know that about 90% of wildfires in Washington state are human caused," he said, urging caution and reminding residents to fully extinguish campfires and avoid activities that can spark fires.
Up the Grove also highlighted recent state investments in aviation and fuels-reduction work, and warned that cuts to prevention funding could lead to more and larger fires in future seasons if not restored.
Operations Section Chief John Spencer described the terrain, dry fuels and weather as major obstacles. "We're already expecting, almost, gust up to 35 miles an hour that will test our lines," Spencer said, noting steep, rugged and rocky conditions that complicate direct attack.
Officials confirmed partner support: Washington Department of Natural Resources and contracted federal and local resources supply roughly 25% of the state's resources, and aviation assets include large air tankers, scoopers and at least three Type 1 helicopters. Washington DOT has closed Highway 14 (and officials referenced closures of Highway 8 and 142), affecting regional commerce and travel.
On evacuations, the Red Cross and county authorities are assisting displaced residents. Officials gave an estimated evacuation count between about 900 and 1,000 people and said decisions about reentry will depend on fire activity and firefighter safety. "We are working directly with Klickitat County Emergency Management as well as the sheriff's office," Gales said.
Gales said the fire's origin was near a road but that the cause remains undetermined. State and federal officials have requested additional assistance and are assessing damage and resource needs; Governor Bob Ferguson said those federal conversations are ongoing and that, at present, incident leadership reported they have the resources they need.
Ferguson, visiting the incident, praised the level of coordination among agencies and thanked responders. "We're very mindful of that," he said of efforts to help homeowners and evacuees. The briefing closed with officials emphasizing continued operations, mop-up, and post-incident recovery planning, including work on landslide and revegetation risks in burned terrain.
Next steps: incident managers will work through an expected wind event, continue mop-up to strengthen control lines and coordinate with county and federal partners on recovery and federal assistance requests. No formal policy actions or votes were taken at the briefing.
