UPDATE: Saddle Mountain Fire 2020 Burning 15 Miles East of Mattawa

*Update: July 7, 2020 5:00 p.m.*

The Saddle Mountain Fire east of Mattawa grew to about 9,900 acres as of Tuesday afternoon and is roughly 50% contained.

Incident Management Team Public Information Officer Ben Shearer stated that Tuesday has been a rough day, with continued gusty winds challenging containment lines.

Shearer said, "Because of the wind and terrain out there, it makes it hard to get in and make crisp, clean lines. There's a lot of downslopes and drainages and stuff that are hard to get into, so some of that got burned out today."

Fire personnel are focusing on the west slope area of Saddle Mountain near the off-road vehicle park.

Crews have had to use some different tactics for much of the fire. Due to sensitive habitat, firefighters have had to use tools like shovels and rakes to dig containment lines instead of heavy equipment like bulldozers and big shovels.

*Update: July 7, 2020 5:00 a.m.*

The Saddle Mountain Fire east of Mattawa and south of Royal City grew to 5,760 acres overnight and is considered 10 percent contained burning on the west side of the slopes.

212 personnel are fighting the fire with six crews, 20 engines, two dozers, and one team of smoke jumpers.

Local crews have been sent home to sleep though some will be on hand Tuesday to assist.

The cause is under investigation.

*Original Story*

The Saddle Mountain Fire 2020 is thought to be at least 300 to 600 acres and burning in steep terrain about 15 miles east of Mattawa.

Grant County Sheriff's Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said, just before 1:00 pm Monday, Mattawa firefighters spotted the brush fire.

"They then contacted Royal City fire units." explained Foreman, "They deployed their resources and we have federal crews who are en route as well. There's also resources coming from Ephrata, Quincy, Franklin County, as well as the Hanford Nuclear Site firefighters."

Foreman said the fire was named 'Saddle Mountain Fire 2020' because the mountain catches fire "seemingly every year."

"There are fire units on the south side of Saddle Mountain which would be off of State Route 24, and there are fire resources on the north side of the mountain, which would be off of State Route 26," added Foreman.

The fire is burning on top of Saddle Mountain and is zero percent contained. No homes are threatened and no evacuations have been announced.

Drivers traveling SR 26 east of Royal City should use caution due to smoke over the roadway.

People are being asked to stay out of the area, and to keep drones on the ground for the safety of air resources.