Fire season underway in Washington with 7,800-acre blaze in Grant County

Washington’s summer fire season got one of its first big blazes of the year over the weekend, as homes and businesses near Mattawa—in neighboring Grant County—have been evacuated.

The fire, dubbed the Powerline Fire, began around 12:30 p.m. on July 14 and has spread to about 7,800 acres. According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office on July 15, the fire spread to about 5,000 acres in less than 24 hours, had low containment and was headed east due to the wind. According to the most recent update, the fire is now 65% contained.

The fire, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, i...