WELLPINIT, Wash. — A wildfire that sparked earlier in July is burning 1,126 acres of forest land on the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation in Stevens County.
The fire is located about 2 miles northeast of Wellpinit, Washington, and is being referred to as the Sherwood Fire. It is 30% contained and no new spots of fire have been reported. There is no reported structure loss.
Level 2 evacuations are in place for homes 1 mile east of Joe Sherwood Road to Martha Broadman Road and for Cottonwood Road east of Drum Road and west of Wilkinson Road. Level three evacuations mean people in the area should get out now. There are roughly 20 homes and structures that are under level 3 evacuations.
Level 1 evacuations are in place for homes 1 mile South of Ford-Wellpinit Road on Martha Boardman Road. This includes Martha Boardman Housing, Tshmikain Meadows, Sockeye and Kokanee. This also includes East of Martha Boardman Road on Ford Wellpinit Road 1 mile both sides and up to Cottonwood Road.
A shelter is set up at Wellpinit Elementary School.
One firefighter who was working to extinguish the flames has tested positive for COVID-19. Two others are currently in quarantine awaiting test results.
Level 1 and 2 evacuations are in effect for the outside areas. Level 2 evacuations are issued for East of Wilkinson Rd. This includes the Boardman housing area.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Spokane Tribe of Indians are responding to the fire.