Richland opens bike path through Yakima River Delta after fire. Expect smoke in area

The bike path through the Yakima River Delta reopened Thursday after inspections by Richland officials.

The path between Columbia Point and the Ben Franklin Transit Center closed after a fire erupted in the delta east of Highway 240.

City parks and public facilities staff assessed the area on Thursday morning and didn’t find any trees that would be hazardous to people on the path.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the land, also inspected the area and determined it was safe to open the trail, the city said in a release Thursday afternoon.

“Our team has just completed the removal of barricades and the trail is now accessible to the public once again,” the city said. “We appreciate the patience of the community as we ensured the safety of the area before reopening.”

Firefighters were called to the delta about 4:15 a.m. Sunday after someone spotted the fire brush in the dense bush and trees.

The fire flared up again on Tuesday and on Wednesday crews cleared fire-break areas around the fire with guidance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife experts. The fire that scorched about 20 acres was considered fully contained on Wednesday.