Update: I-82 reopens after brush fire south of Kennewick

Most lanes of Interstate 82 are back open after it was closed by a wildfire between the Tri-Cities and Oregon on Friday afternoon.

The lanes heading north have opened again. One of the southbound lanes remains closed as firefighters continue to work in the area, the Washington State Department of Transportation said.

Firefighters were called to a blaze about two miles north of the Oregon border after a tire came off a camper trailer and ignited dry grasses at 1:15 p.m., Trooper Chris Thorson said in a Tweet.

The blaze burned along the shoulder and in the median of the highway.

Smoke from the fire obscured highway and traffic was interfering with firefighting efforts, leading to the highway closing at 2:15 p.m.

The Washington State Department of Transportation reported that the fire is out, but firefighters are remaining on the scene putting out hot spots.

This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 2:16 PM.