Firefighters were battling fires across the Tri-Cities on a busy Independence Day holiday.
More than 75 calls about fires had come in from all over the area by 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to dispatch reports.
Police and bystanders reacted to a grass fire started by fireworks on the embankment of the Interstate 182 bridge at Columbia Point Marina Park in Richland on July 4. Cory McCoy
Bystanders watching fireworks on the Interstate 182 bridge between Richland and Pasco spotted a fire in the brush on the embankment at Columbia Point Marina Park where hundreds were gathered to celebrate and set off fireworks in the large parking lot.
Police and bystanders reacted to a grass fire started by fireworks on the embankment of the Interstate 182 bridge at Columbia Point Marina Park in Richland on July 4. Cory McCoy
Embers were carried by gusts of wind, leaving a small chunk of the embankment along the walking trail scorched.
A brushfire flared up after gusts of wind carried embers from fireworks onto the embankment of the Interstate 182 bridge at Columbia Point Marina Park in Richland on July 4.
Bystanders and Richland police officers kept it from spreading until fire crews arrived with a hose to fully put it out.
A firefighter puts out a small brush fire started by fireworks on the walking trail up to the Interstate 182 bridge at Columbia Point Marina Park. Cory McCoy
Crews were also on a call for a residential fire in the 99000 block of N. Harrington Road and others were working fires in Badger Road and Badger Canyon area.
This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 10:56 PM.
Cory is an award-winning investigative reporter. He joined the Tri-City Herald in Dec. 2021 as an Editor/Reporter covering social accountability issues. His past work can be found in the Tyler Morning Telegraph and other Texas newspapers. He was a 2019-20 Education Writers Association Fellow, and has been featured on The Murder Tapes, Grave Mysteries and Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen.
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