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Update: At least 1 home destroyed, 7,000+ acres burned as 3 Tri-City region fires continue

Cameron Probert, Annette Cary
·4 min read

At least one home was destroyed, fruit orchards damaged and several thousand acres scorched as three wildfires whipped through Benton County on Tuesday.

Firefighters were continuing Wednesday to work on containing two blazes near Benton City and one south of Finley as they continued to burn in the breezy and dry conditions.

The Hansen fire, which started near Yakitat Road west of the Tri-Cities about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, had burned 6,000 acres and was 25% percent contained by Wednesday morning.

It had burned into the Horse Heaven Hills and threatened 150 homes.

The Hover fire south of Finley had blackened 1,000 acres since starting about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. It was 50% contained and burning in the dense vegetation near the Columbia River, said Jenna Kochenauer, Benton County Fire District 1 public information officer.

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Along the way the fire damaged orchards in the area, she said.

Finally, the third large fire broke out about 7:20 p.m. Tuesday near Ruppert Road and Demoss Road north of Benton City. It burned 150 acres and was 25% contained by Wednesday.

That blaze burned a home and forced other evacuations, as well as threatening radio infrastructure and power lines, said Kochenauer.

The causes of the fires have not been determined.

A Red Cross evacuation center was set up at Kiona-Benton City High School on Tuesday night. But by Wednesday morning all of the evacuation orders were lifted and no injuries reported.

A fire south of Finley blackened nearly 1,000 acres of sagebrush and grass along a ridge near Hover Park.
A fire south of Finley blackened nearly 1,000 acres of sagebrush and grass along a ridge near Hover Park.

Tri-Cities region forecast

The National Weather Service is continuing to predict breezy conditions with gusts of up to 24 mph and low humidity on Wednesday.

Firefighting efforts for all of the fires was being coordinated from the Benton County Fairgrounds, as resources come in from around Washington state.

Firefighters from across the state have set up a camp at the Benton County Fairgrounds to battle three fires in the county.
Firefighters from across the state have set up a camp at the Benton County Fairgrounds to battle three fires in the county.

Kochenauer said the teams were focusing on containment efforts Wednesday.

Washington State Patrol Patrol John Batiste authorized mobilizing state resources for the Hover and Hansen Road fires about 4:15 p.m. That came at the request of Benton County Fire District 1 Chief Lonnie Click and Benton County Fire District 2 Chief Dennis Bates.

The Ruppert Road fire was added to the mobilization at 8:20 p.m., at the request of Benton County Fire District 4 Chief Paul Carlyle.

A total of five wildland strike teams and an airplane were called in to help the efforts.

Air quality has improved after air quality monitors in Kennewick and Walla Walla counties showed it deteriorating to a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as seniors, children and people with chronic illnesses.

Yakima Valley, Oregon fires

The three fires are in addition to a wildland fire near Highway 730 in Umatilla County, Ore., that grew to 10,000 acres Tuesday evening, plus a second fire in Umatilla County, the Mount Hebron fire, near Pendleton. Both were burning since midday Tuesday.

Highway 730 from Cold Springs Junction in Umatilla County, Ore., to the Washington state line was closed Tuesday evening due to a wildfire.
Highway 730 from Cold Springs Junction in Umatilla County, Ore., to the Washington state line was closed Tuesday evening due to a wildfire.

People in the Juniper Canyon area near the Hat Rock fire south of the McNary National Wildlife Refuge were advised to evacuate at 7 p.m., and officials were going door to door to notify them. A shelter was opened in Hermiston.

Tuesday evening the Oregon state fire marshal sent an incident management team to Umatilla County and Gov. Tina Kotek used the Emergency Conflagration Act to allow additional firefighters and equipment also to be sent.

“The Hat Rock and Mount Hebron fires have been growing rapidly due to the dry, windy conditions in Umatilla County,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple.

Aircraft, including a helicopter, sent to fight the Hat Rock Fire were grounded Tuesday evening due to high winds and visibility.

As of 8:45 p.m. the Mount Hebron fire was close to 100% contained, with a hay shed, at least one other outbuilding and two vehicles burned.

Wildfire danger is high in much of southeastern Washington and south into Oregon because of the strong winds forecast through 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service also issued a red flag fire warning between Connell and Pendleton on one side and between Yakima and Walla Walla on the other side.

Officials feared that fires would spread quickly because of temperatures in the low 90s, dry vegetation, wind and low humidity.