Road 11 fire burns nearly 10,000 acres near Mansfield

The Road 11 Fire named for the road near its ignition point triggered Level 2 evacuation notices to some Mansfield-area residents who were advised to be prepared to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.

“The whole town received the evacuation order,” Mansfield Mayor Tom Snell told The Quad last Friday, July 17.

Snell, first elected in 1990, is the longest-serving mayor in the state. He said the town evacuation was the first of its kind for Mansfield.

“It hasn’t happened before as long as I can remember,” Snell said.

According to the July 11 RiverCom fire incident summary area fire units that responded included those from Bridgeport, Douglas County Fire Districts 1,2,3,4, and 5, Chelan Fire Districts 1,6, and 7, Leavenworth, Manson, Cashmere and Entiat, among others.

A Southeast Washington All-Hazard Interagency Type 3 Team assumed control of the fire on the morning of July 12

According to an incident summary from the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management (SWIIM) Team the fire was moving northward through the grass, sagebrush and wheat when a change in wind direction pushed the flames east in the direction of Mansfield, prompting the evacuation notice.

“The fire’s progress towards Mansfield slowed to a stop and the eastern flank contained by Sunday evening (July 12),” said the SWIIM report. “All evacuation notices were dropped late in the day on July 13.”

As crews completed containment operations the site was turned over to DCFD last Wednesday, July 15, for final mop up and monitoring.

Citizens are advised to call 911 or RiverCom dispatch at 509-663-9911 to report fires.