Batterman Fire Nearly 8,000 Acres, 10% Contained

Monday 6:00 P.M. UPDATE

The Batterman Fire has grown to an estimated 7,900 acres as of Monday afternoon with 10% containment. Up to 80 residences remain threatened but there are no reportes of any damaged structures since the fire started Sunday about 12:15pm near Grant Road and North Ward Street, just east of Pangborn Airport in East Wenatchee.

Public Information Officer Grace DeBusschere said crews using dozers worked to construct containment lines. Air resources included two helicopters and three large air tankers to combat the fire and halt its spread. Firefighters conducted a burnout operation to assist in holding the fire’s eastern perimeter at Rock Island Grade. DeBusschere said the fire has remained on the west side of the Grade. The fire has been most active in the Rock Island Creek Drainage and Beaver Creek Drainage.

Afternoon winds were blowing from the northwest at 11-14 miles per hour with gusts of 24 miles per hour around the fire. Winds have blown smoke in the direction of Palisades. For information on air quality

A Type 2 Incident Management Team will assume control of the firefighting effort on Tuesday with additional resources

Evacuation orders remain unchanged:
Rock Island Grade: Level 3
The North Side of Batterman Road: Level 3
Indian Camp: Level 2
Palisades: Level 1

Road Closures:
Batterman Road
Rock Island Grade

There are 36 engines, 3 crews, 6 dozers and 2 helicopters with a total of 177 personnel assigned to the Batterman fire. More resources will be made available when a Type 2 Incident Team assumes control of the fire suppression on Tuesday. The cause is under investigation