Walla Walla Blue Creek Fire “Highest Priority In Nation” Says Official

The wildfire burning about ten miles East of Walla Walla is now the Number One firefighting priority in the U.S, according to the area incident commander.

According to the Walla Walla Union Bulletin Newspaper Thursday, Mike Ciraulo said the number of people fighting the Blue Creek Fire is expected to grow to between 800 and 1,000 by Thursday night. More resources are being applied to this blaze than any other in the country, including extra heavy equipment and aerial tankers and sprayers.

The fire, which officials say was human caused, has grown to over 5,500 acres, and is threatening a watershed area that supplies the Walla Walla area.  Firefighters have contained about 5% of the blaze, but the Bulletin reports workers have established some good perimeters between the fire and the Mill Creek Watershed.

Crews are also establishing fire lines to help protect residents who live in the Little Blue Creek area, as man residents have begun to fear for their homes. The fire is burning in what is called a mixture of grass, brush, timber and slash, meaning cut or downed vegetation.

The fire was first detected shortly after noon on Monday of this week.