Wind-whipped fires burn homesteads, 3 railroad bridges and more in Tri-Cities region

Fires fueled by high winds and dry conditions on Labor Day destroyed a number of homes, outbuildings and three railroad bridges throughout Franklin and Benton counties.

It is not clear just how many families were displaced by Monday’s fires, either from evacuations or damage to their house. The American Red Cross has been helping those affected with food and lodging.

One fire ripped through several homes in Basin City, more homes burned down south of Kahlotus and at least one home was lost in the Prosser area.

No injuries were reported.

The windstorm swept through the Pacific Northwest as the three-day holiday weekend was wrapping up.

It led to the closure of several major highways in Eastern Washington due to poor visibility from blowing dust and smoke.

Chief Mike Harris with Franklin Fire District 3 said there was nothing normal about Monday’s weather conditions to any longtime Mid-Columbia residents.

The strong winds that came out of the northeast, gusting at 40-50 mph, were pushed by a historic cold front, Harris told the Tri-City Herald.

And the impact of the storm system was felt across the entire state and down into Oregon, with red flag warnings in most counties, he said.

The “Snake River Fire” Kahlotus started south of Kahlotus just after 10 a.m., about the same time the wind picked up. The flames spread across more than 15,000 acres down along the Snake River, including around Windust Park, before the fire was contained about 3 a.m.

Crews were working on a few patches still burning Tuesday and cleaning up.

Harris said it started near the Pasco-Kahlotus highway and Highway 263. He said he could rule out lightning, but otherwise does not know what caused it.

The fire districts had “a pretty good heads up from the National Weather Service” and called in extra crews to be ready.

Firefighters were assisted by farmers who watered down their fields and used their plows and discs to help clear brush and cut fire breaks.

Harris said it was more difficult than normal to fight because the winds carried the fire really fast across the wheat stubble, which then resulted in blowing dust.

The Pasco Kahlotus Road, Burr Canyon Road and Highway 263 were closed due to zero visibility, downed power lines and fire hazards.

Along with the destruction of several homes and shop buildings, two bridges that are part of the Columbia Plateau Trail, a rail-bed trail, came down.

Pete Peterson, superintendent of the Kiona-Benton City School District, said two vacant homes and two shops burned down to the ground at his family’s homestead along the Pasco-Kahlotus highway.

Peterson Ranch also lost some old vehicles, he said.

West Benton Fire Rescue reported about 80 firefighters operating on “multiple fire fronts” between Benton City and Prosser.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for some residents. The Prosser fire district reported late last night that one home had burned down, at least two other homes and 10 outbuildings were damaged, and an active train trestle over the Yakima River was destroyed.

For those in need of help from the fires, call the local Red Cross at 509-820-4170.

This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 2:43 PM.