A wind-driven wildfire in Washington state’s Yakima Valley has destroyed homes near the community of White Swan (map), about 20 miles southwest of Yakima. Two firefighters experienced “minor, non-life threatening injuries”. The fire was reported at about 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and there is no estimate on the number of acres burned.
In the video below, a law enforcement officer says 10 to 20 homes have been “affected” by the fire.
Here is an excerpt from an article at the Yakima Herald-Republic that was time-stamped at 5:22 p.m., Saturday:
Officials said the fire started in a chimney and spread to the roof and ground, where it fanned out rapidly across Second Street. One of the homes destroyed was owned by Rodney Martin, who had lived in his home for 30 years and had just paid it off last year.
“I got out front and tried to water the front of the house, and it overtook me,” said Martin, 45. “It went from one vehicle on fire to another vehicle on fire.”
East Valley fire Chief George Spencer, the designated public information officer at the scene, said crews from all over the Upper Valley were battling the blaze along with Yakama tribal firefighters and Fire District 5 from the Lower Valley.
He said 60 to 80 firefighters were working the fire, which was burning in brush and some homes north of the post office.
About 4:30 p.m., officials estimated they had the fire about 25 percent contained and likely will be battling the blaze for another six to eight hours. Strong winds weren’t expected to die down until about 9 tonight.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton, Ore., said there was a report of sustained winds of about 44 mph and gusts of up to 53 mph just east of White Swan earlier this afternoon.
