Fire crews battling blaze along Snake River near Nisqually John Landing and Steptoe Canyon

Firefighters from several agencies are battling a roughly 300-acre wildfire burning on of the east side of the Snake River between Nisqually John Landing and Steptoe Canyon.

Nick Bell, Deputy Fire Chief of Whitman County Fire District 14 said the wind driven blaze is 0% contained.

“We have seven aircraft on it and more coming,” he said.

Steptoe Canyon and Wawawai Canyon Roads are closed or in the process of being closed and firefighters are asking people to stay off the river in that area. Aircrafts including helicopters and water scoopers are using the river as a water source.

Fire teams from other fire districts in Whitman County, the cities of Moscow and Clarkston, Asotin County and the Wheatland Fire District are working to control the fire and Bell said the Washington Department of Natural Resources is expected to take over command of firefighting efforts as soon as this evening.

He said the fire is being driven by sustained 15 mile per hour winds. It started along Downriver Road and is burning from the river to farm fields at the top of the Snake River Breaks. Its cause is unknown.