July 25, 2021
Spokane County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Hardesty Valley Fire and the Hazard Hill Fire located in Spokane County, near Spokane. The Hardesty Valley Fire and the Hazard Hill Fire are burning in timber and brush. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 25, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. at the request of Assistant Fire Chief Howard Johnson, Spokane County Fire District 4. This request was originally made under the name of the Valley Road Fire.
The Hardesty Valley Fire started on July 25, 2021, at approximately 5:01 p.m. and has burned an estimated 70 acres. The Hazard Hill Fire started on July 25, 2021, at approximately 5:51 p.m. and has burned an estimated 70 acres. These fires are still growing and are threatening homes and property. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The cause of these fires is currently under investigation.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray will remain activated to Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Hardesty Valley Fire and the Hazard Hill Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered 5 strike teams and the fires will be managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are both en route to the scene and working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.
Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization. The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at: https://wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.