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 Andrus Fire located in Spokane County, near Cheney. The Andrus Fire is burning in grass, brush, and timber. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 5, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3.
The Andrus Fire started on July 5, 2021, at approximately 11:11 a.m. This fire is estimated at 50 acres and growing. It is threatening local resources, crops, 137 primary residences, communications infrastructure, and Interstate 90. Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered five task forces.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray will remain activated to Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Andrus Fire. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are en route to the scene 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: http://www.wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.