BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – A prescribed burn by the Department of Transportation unexpectedly turned into a small brush fire near the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility Tuesday morning.
The Department of Transportation, confirming the fire occurred while crews were burning tumbleweeds around the culverts of Highway 225. Benton County Fire Protection District Two is reminding residents to burn safely.
Fire Chief Dennis Bates, who responded to the incident, reminds residents that just because the area looks safe, doesn’t mean it’s not going to ignite.
“In our neighborhood, in the basin here, there’s still dead dry fuels under the green stuff that’s growing there. It’ll still carry fire right now,” said Fire Chief Bates. “It just needs a little bit of wind or topography to take off and go.”
While the Department of Transportation followed all precautions, including briefings, monitoring wind conditions, and having water trucks on standby, the fire still found a path.
“As the weather changes, just be, you know, fire wise, watch what’s going on and make sure you have defensible space around your house,” said Chief Bates. “When we do have a large wildfire in those wildland urban interface areas, that’s the difference in your house standing and not,” Bates stated.
Chief Bates noted that his department has no prescribed burns planned for the future but will be putting in dozer lines at the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility the first weekend of June.
He also reminds residents to check with your local fire department before burning. You should also check your local clean air agency and fire levels.
