Local Stations Make Quick Work of Hill Loop Fire

While the Modrite and Kaiser Canyon fires have been mostly contained, the Hill Loop fire, located about 13 miles north of Kettle Falls, sprouted last week, growing up to 75 acres on the first day.

Wildfire officials have since acted quickly, stopping forward progress and containing 72% of the 127- acre fire by Aug. 24. According to National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) officials, the Hill Loop was first reported on Aug. 20, at 2:41 p.m. as a five-acre vegetation fire. By 9:59 p.m. that same day, NIFC reported that the fire had grown to 75 acres, with evacuation notices in place.

According to Stevens County Emergency Management (SCEM), a Red Cross shelter was opened at the American Legion Post 146 in Kettle Falls but then closed within a few hours. There were 17 structures threatened and a single residence and a minor structure that were destroyed, according to SCEM. A total of 153 personnel, 10 engines, one falling module, one dozer, three tenders, and one skidgine were deployed to fight the fire during the course of the operation, according to SCEM.

Firefighters continued securing containment around the fire’s perimeter on Aug. 23-24, stopping forward progress and establishing a dozer line around it. Officials said crews will continue securing the fire line with a goal of at least 150 feet of mop-up around the perimeter. On the west side of the fire, officials said firefighters searched for the remaining heat, then mopped up those areas.

Crews will continue patrolling and monitoring around structures as firefighting operations wind down, NIFC officials said. Fire officials deter- mined that the fire was hu- man-caused, and an inves- tigation is underway.