Investigation underway into fire that closed I-82 Monday
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BENTON CITY – Both directions of Interstate 82 were shutdown for hours Monday after a fire burning in grass and brush started near the highway in the interstate, jumped the Yakima River, and started a second fire on Yakitat Road.
The fire started at about 1:15 p.m. in the area of West Old Inland Empire (OIE) Highway and West Knox Road.
Thick smoke started to impact travel on I-82, and the incident commander requested assistance from the Washington State Department of Transportation to close traffic in both directions of travel between the Yakitat Road exit and Gibbon Road exit.
Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuations orders were put in place for residents from Gibbon Road to Yakitat Road between the Yakima River and north of I-82. The evacuation order, encouraging residents to be ready to evacuate if conditions worsened, remained in place until shortly after shortly after 8:00 p.m.
The Washington State Patrol Fire Marshal’s Office approve state mobilization resources at 4:30 p.m., authorizing the use of helicopter to drop water onto the fire. Three helicopters responded and helped crews bring the fire under control.
In all, the fire burned about 1,300 acres of wildland and private land. No residences were burned in the fire, but at least one outbuilding, possibly a barn, was destroyed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Photo via Washington State Patrol
