State sends airplanes to fight fire south of Kennewick

The state is sending help to battle a 750-acre blaze near Easterday Farms south of Finley.

The state Fire Marshal's Office mobilized airplanes to help fight the fire that started about 7:45 a.m. Friday.

Winds were fanning the flames that jumped fire breaks and damaged at least one locally based fire truck.

Firefighters from Benton County fire districts 2 and 4, and Kennewick, Richland and Pasco fire departments were on the scene most of the day trying to keep it from damaging crops and railway lines.

Firefighters thought they'd stopped the fire's growth in Switzler Canyon but the wind flared it back up, said Tracy Baker, the Benton County Fire District 1 public information officer.

The rough terrain was making it hard to contain.

This story was originally published June 22, 2018 at 9:53 AM with the headline "State sends airplanes to fight fire south of Kennewick."