Farmers, mutual-aid crews help extinguish Sky Rocket Road Fire Near Prescott

WALLA WALLA COUNTY — A wildfire that threatened homes and property in steep terrain near Prescott is now out after burning approximately 6,000 acres, officials said.

The Sky Rocket Road Fire drew a multi-agency response Thursday evening after crews were dispatched at 7:06 p.m. Firefighters and local volunteers battled high winds and soft ground before clearing the scene Friday at 4:30 p.m., logging more than 21 hours on the front lines.

Walla Walla North County Fire District Chief Jim Ruffcorn confirmed the acreage total, noting that despite challenging conditions, no structures were lost.

Residents may continue to see localized smoke over the next few days as trees and interior debris inside the blackened burn zone finish smoldering. During the peak of the blaze, Walla Walla County Emergency Management issued temporary evacuation warnings for nearby residents as crews worked to establish containment boundaries.

The firefight relied heavily on mutual aid from eight area agencies, including Columbia County Fire Districts 1 and 3, Columbia County-Walla Walla Fire District 2, Walla Walla County Fire Districts 4 and 8, the Walla Walla Fire Department, the College Place Fire Department, and the Walla Walla Emergency Department.

Local farmers also played a pivotal role, using tractors and discs to cut critical fire lines across steep, rugged terrain that heavy fire apparatus could not reach.

“They were the real heroes,” the fire district wrote in a statement, thanking volunteer firefighters, farmers, and regional mutual-aid partners who worked through the night to protect area homes.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy Walla Walla North County Fire District

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