[1] The fire originated in the Umatilla National Forest in southeastern Washington, in Columbia and Garfield Counties.

The School Fire was detected from space by NASA's Terra satellite.

[2] The fire burned around 51,892.13 acres (81.08 sq mi; 21,000 ha),[3] destroying over 100 houses and 100 outbuildings.

[4] The School Fire started on August 5, 2005 when a dead pine tree struck a power line, igniting dry grass.

[4] The fire "blew up" due to the combination of dry grass and high winds.