Fire sends black plume of smoke up from Bateman Island in Richland
A fire broke out on Bateman Island Thursday afternoon and began spreading into the heavier brush.
Richland firefighters reported seeing a plume of black smoke coming from the island about 3 p.m., according to initial scanner reports.
The fire reportedly started in some dry grass on the island near the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers. Flames were reported to be 10 to 15 feet high.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
The 160-acre island off Columbia Park Trail is popular for people walking and fishing and can only be accessed on foot on a narrow land bridge.
It’s also been the scene of several fires in recent years. It was closed twice in 2023 after a couple fires, one in May and the other in September, scorched several acres of the island.
