150 homes threatened, some evacuated by 2-alarm Tri-Cities fire
Washington state fire assistance has been called out to help contain the Country Meadows Fire burning near Kennewick on Saturday evening.
An estimated 150 homes were threatened at the fire’s peak, and flames spread up to the property lines of several homes on the ridge top.
Work was continuing to confirm damage Saturday night, but there was no information then that any home had been lost.
However, an outbuilding or shop may have been destroyed, according to Jenna Roberts with Benton Fire District 1, in information posted on Facebook about 8 p.m.
Some crops also may have been burned, she said.
Firefighters had a containment line around about 20% of the fire, which had burned about 1,000 acres, as of 8 p.m.
Three hours earlier Benton County sheriff’s deputies were going door-to-door to homes in the area between Locust Grove Road and Interstate 82 or Ridgeline Road on both sides of Clodfelter Road to warn residents to be prepared to evacuate.
At 6 p.m. homes from the intersection of Clodfelter Road and Interstate 82 to Locust Grove Road, including the Tripple Vista area, were evacuated.
Residents were expected to be allowed to return to their homes Saturday night, but advised to continue to be on alert.
Clodfelter Road from Ridgeline Drive to Locust Grove Road was closed to traffic Saturday evening and reopened about 10 p.m.
Traffic from people driving out to see the fire and drones had been a problem, Roberts said.
The wildfire is suspected of starting from a controlled burn that got out of control about 1:30 p.m. However, the cause remains under investigation.
Drifting smoke choked parts of west Kennewick and south Richland as the fire burned Saturday and billowing clouds of light smoke could be seen for miles across the Tri-Cities region
The Washington State Patrol chief authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 5:15 p.m. at the request of Benton Fire District 1.
Two wildlife strike teams had been ordered from the Fire Protection Bureau, and help was expected to arrive to relieve local crews at 6 a.m. Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon, about 40 trucks and other apparatus and 100 firefighting personnel were on scene. They came from Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla county agencies, as well as cities within those counties and other state and federal agencies.
Helicopters also were being used for firefighting, scooping water from canals to drop on flames, until sundown on Saturday. At times drones had interfered with their flights.
With the fire 20% contained, some firefighters were being released late Saturday evening.
Wildland crews were expected to remain at the fire scene overnight, monitoring for flare ups and putting out hot spots.
Roberts said the county is already rated as being in high fire danger this season because of dry conditions. Outdoor burning is currently not allowed, except for under agricultural permits.
“Please, don’t burn stuff,” Roberts posted on Facebook.
This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:23 PM.