UPDATE: Crews battle two fires in Tri-Cities
By Terry Murry on Friday, April 30th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
Saturday at 9:10 a.m.
RICHLAND, Washington – Firefighters continue to work on containment for what are currently considered to be two fires, the Yakima River Delta fire and the Columbia Point fire. Officials say it is not yet clear if one fire sparked the other or if they are unrelated.
The Yakima River Delta fire is put at 85 acres and started Wednesday afternoon. The Columbia Point fire flared up Thursday afternoon and the last estimate had it at 145 acres. The first fire is not growing according to Richland Fire Department officials. However, there is still brush within the contained area that has not burned. The bike path along Highway 240 is closed between the Ben Franklin Transit Center and through Columbia Point. That closure is expected to last for at least seven days, to allow crews to address any hazards, like damaged trees. No injuries have been reported and the fires are not threatening any buildings.
POSTED FRIDAY:
RICHLAND – The Yakima River Delta Fire on Columbia Point South sparked back up Thursday afternoon after smoldering brush along Highway 240 ignited and spread to an undeveloped area near the Interstate 82 bridges. The wind combined with warm temperatures caused the flare.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area of Interstate 182, Highway 240, and the Columbia Point Marina. Boaters were asked to avoid the area as well.
Firefighters say there is still brush that has not burned in the contained 85-acre area. It’s expected to continue to smolder for about a month.
Two motorists were injured in separate crashes on Highway 240 during the fire Wednesday afternoon. The injured parties are also being charged after rear-ending vehicles that had slowed due to traffic congestion. Steven G. Erdmann, 62, of Kennewick is charged with negligent driving in the second degree. In the other crash, Marian A. Anderson, 70, of Pasco is charged with following too close. There were no injuries to the occupants of the second vehicles.
Photo via Richland Fire Department on Facebook
