RICHLAND, Wash. - In a well-coordinated effort, the Hanford Fire Department and nearby cities and counties successfully contained a wildfire that presented firefighters with many challenges and obstacles.
Lightning sparked the fire that burned more than 5,000 acres of Gable Mountain, located near the center of Hanford, earlier this month. No one was injured.
“Before the fire was contained, I had the opportunity to visit the fire command center and see firsthand the hard work and dedication of the Hanford Fire Department and other firefighters from neighboring cities and counties," said Brian Vance, Hanford Site manager. “These men and women were battling challenging conditions to ensure the safety of our people, the site, and our community."
The fire department, managed by Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance (MSA), called in firefighters from the nearby cities of Richland and Kennewick, as well as Walla Walla, Benton, and Franklin counties to combat the wildland fire. MSA also used heavy equipment operations to support firefighting efforts.
“Firefighting crews were challenged with heavy fuels due to the location, difficult-to-access locations, and changing weather conditions such as strong winds and increasing temperatures," said Adam Moldovan, acting fire chief of the Hanford Fire Department.
Lightning also caused several other small fires across the 580-square-mile site. Firefighters quickly extinguished those fires, protecting facilities and allowing them to return focus to the Gable Mountain effort.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
