Investigators remained Saturday at a house on North Harrington Road where two bodies were found after a fire. The house is about eight miles west of Richland near the Yakima River and Highway 240.
Scott Hunt
Special to the Herald
West Richland, WA
A second body has been found in a house that burned Friday in a rural area near West Richland.
Benton County Coroner Bill Leach, who was at the house Saturday morning, said neither body has been identified.
An autopsy is planned on Tuesday, and medical and dental records will be compared as possible identities are established, he said.
Police investigators remained Saturday at a house on North Harrington Road where two bodies were found after a fire. The house is about eight miles west of Richland near the Yakima River and Highway 240. Scott Hunt Special to the Herald
The fire at 112726 N. Harrington Road was reported about 6:30 a.m. Friday.
Initially, it was reported as a wildfire north of Benton City, said Ben Shearer, the public information officer for Benton County Fire District 4.
Investigators remained Saturday at a house on North Harrington Road where two bodies were found after a fire. Scott Hunt Special to the Herald
But firefighters soon discovered a house south of the Yakima River and Highway 240 was burning.
As firefighters worked to put out the fire, they discovered the first body.
West Richland police are leading the investigation into the fire with help from Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Benton County Fire District 4.
Two people were rported dead after a fire at a West Richland home. Google Maps
Tri-City Herald reporter Annette Cary contributed to this account.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 12:32 PM.
Cameron Probert covers breaking news for the Tri-City Herald, where he tries to answer reader questions about why police officers and firefighters are in your neighborhood. He studied communications at Washington State University.https://mycheckout.tri-cityherald.com/subscribe?ofrgp_id=394&g2i_or_o=Event&g2i_or_p=Reporter&cid=news_cta_0.99-1mo-15.99-on-article_202404
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