Firefighters from Grant County Fire District 13 responded to several wildfires over the last week, according to a statement from the fire district.
Most of the fires were controlled burns that got out of hand, GCFD 13 Fire Chief Jim Stucky told the Columbia Basin Herald.
“If you're going to do a controlled burn, have your water there and completely watch it till it’s out. Out-out,” Stucky said. “Some of these people may have been thinking, ‘It's not gonna go anywhere. We'll just go in the house and do whatever.’ (Then) the neighbor's call and say, ‘Hey, it’s coming at my house. Come put a fire out, please.'”
The countywide burn ban was lifted Oct. 1, which means people are burning garbage and tumbleweeds, Stucky said, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be careful.