Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov

*** For Immediate Release***

Date: August 6, 2010
Contact: On-Scene Public Information Officer
Phone: 360-450-3284
E-mail:

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Update of the Fire Mobilization for the Leahy Junction Fire

State fire assistance has been mobilized to support local firefighters working to contain the Leahy Junction Fire near Bridgeport , in Douglas County.  Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 4, 2010 at 7:15 p.m. at the request of Douglas County Fire District No. 3.

This lightning caused fire started at 6:09 p.m. on Tuesday August 3rd burning in sagebrush and grass. It is approximately 2,000 acres and is 80% contained. No homes or buildings are threatened.  Crews spent Friday working on mop-up.  Starting tomorrow resources will begin to be demobilized with the remaining resources demobilized on Sunday morning.  

Leahy Junction is the intersection between State Route 17 and State Route 174 in Douglas County, approximate 20 miles northwest of Coulee City.

Under the mobilization plan, the Office of State Fire Marshal will be coordinating the initial dispatch of firefighters, engines, water tenders, and helicopters. The State Fire Services Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when wildfires exceed the firefighting capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Mobilization Plan is available at: http://wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobeplan/emobplan.htm

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