1 seriously hurt, 8 buildings destroyed in 2nd major fire near Benton City

One person suffered life-threatening injuries in wildfire now estimated at 326- acres north of Benton City on Tuesday afternoon.

The two-alarm blaze was nearly contained on Wednesday after it started about noon the day before west of Highway 225 and north of Acord Road, Benton County Fire District 2 said in a release.

Wind and extremely dry grass and brush fueled the fire that threatened 48 homes and 106 other buildings.

In all, eight buildings were destroyed, but fire officials have not said what kind of structures were damaged.

Fire officials said one person was seriously hurt, but the type of injuries were not released. There was at least one report on Tuesday of farmworkers being treated for smoke inhalation.

A total of 160 firefighters from Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties helped fight the fire, along with two planes and three helicopters. The cause is under investigation.