UPDATE: Richland delta blaze 100% contained but blustery winds could change that

The fire burning the Yakima River Delta near Richland was declared 100% contained on Wednesday evening after firefighters created a buffer zone by setting other fires.

The marshy area east of Highway 240 near Richland was burning and smoldering Wednesday after a weekend blaze rekindled, said the Richland Fire and Emergency Services department.

Firefighters worked to form a 3-foot-wide, 100-yard-long cleared area around the fire with guidance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife experts, said a news release.

A fire crew remained in the area overnight as a precaution to monitor for flareups from wind and thunderstorms forecast for the region.

The bike path between Columbia Point and Columbia Park Trail will remain closed until further notice.

Fish and Wildlife officials plan to return Thursday morning to evaluate and remove any weakened limbs or trees or other debris that could fall on people using the path.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the land, and Richland firefighters also have been checking the newly scorched areas to assess the damage.

The area is expected to continue to smolder and flare for days or weeks to come, depending on the weather.

Fire officials were asking the public not to call the 911 emergency center about the fire because crews are on-site to monitor it.

Firefighters were called back to the Yakima River Delta about noon Tuesday after the blaze flared sending a dark plume visible throughout much of the Tri-Cities after burning about 20 acres on Sunday.

Crews continued to battle the flames through the afternoon and by 9:30 p.m. they reported they were continuing to monitor the fire, Richland crews said in a Facebook post.

The fire remains east of Highway 240 and has not spread to Bateman Island, said officials. The highway is a key commuter route to and from Richland for Hanford site and PNNL workers, coming from Kennewick.

The cause is still under investigation.

The thick brush of the delta area has been popular with homeless campers.

In 2021, two fires — one 85 acres and another 145 acres — devastated the Yakima River Delta near Richland were started at a homeless camp near a culvert along Highway 240.

The dense brush made it difficult for firefighters to move through. This week, Washington state helicopters and planes helped dump water on the flames.

Firefighters were called out to the delta about 4:15 a.m. Sunday after someone spotted flames in the wetland area.

Richland firefighters have received help from Kennewick and Benton County Fire District 1.

Richland Fire Battalion Chief Michael VanBeek told the Tri-City Herald that people should stay clear of the area because the burned areas could be dangerous.

This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM.