A wildfire started on the Naval Weapons System Training Facility in Boardman shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, the 13-mile front fire had burned about 10,000 total acres, most of it on Navy property. No one has been injured and no structure or populations are threatened, according to a release from the Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island.
According to Mike Welding of the Naval Air Station, the fire initially became difficult to contain due to erratic winds, spreading southwest of the Navy’s range onto Nature Conservancy property. Department of Defense and local fire-fighting assets worked to contain further spread of the fire.
Mutual aid assistance from local fire services was requested at the outset. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island flew its fire chief down to lead efforts establishing defensive measures to contain the fire’s spread. Navy Region Northwest also dispatched two fire engines and crews from Kitsap Naval Base to assist. Boardman Rural, Yakima and Fairchild also dispatched crews who have played key roles in slowing the fire’s spread.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. The Oregon Air National Guard is currently conducting demolition training in Boardman this week.
