Wildfire — Yakima Valley, Washington

2017-07-23 to 2017-07-26 · Yakima Valley, Washington

Event narrative

The Selah Fire Department responded to a reported fire on the LT Murray State Wildlife area near Sheep Company Road. Upon arrival emergency responders observed active fire behavior fueled by grass and brush with 10 mile per hour wind pushing the fire to the south. Early morning hours of July 24 saw the winds calm which aided in the successful construction of hand and dozer line that curtailed the spread of the fire keeping it north of Huntzinger Road and east of Sheep Company Road. 20 to 30 homes were initially threatened and residents were advised to evacuate. No homes were damaged; residents have returned to their homes and evacuation levels are now level 1. Fire was 75 percent contained by early morning on the 25th with 1,771 acres burned. No more updates on fire were available after the 25th and estimated fire contained by the 26th.

Wider weather episode

A grass and brush fire burned in urban/rural interface are north of Selah Washington in late July.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 708697. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.