ZILLAH — Firefighters were working into the evening Monday tamping down hot spots after a wildland fire burned an estimated 700 acres of grass and brush northeast of Zillah.
About 50 firefighters using 20 fire rigs from at least eight Yakima Valley fire departments were called in, along with a state Department of Natural Resources helicopter from Moses Lake, Yakima County Fire District No. 5 Chief Brian Vogel said.
People in the area said the fire began as a legally permitted agricultural burn, but a shift in the wind caused the fire to escape around noon. Vogel said the fire was still under investigation as of early Monday evening.
Winds of more than 10 to 15 mph spread the fire quickly across the landscape. But despite some steep terrain, Vogel said firefighters didn’t have a lot of trouble reaching the fire.
By about 6 p.m. the fire was about 95 percent contained, Vogel said. Fire crews were estimated to be at the scene mopping up until about 9:30 p.m., and then will return today.
There were no reported injuries or properties damaged, according to officials.
Wind gusts of 10 to 20 mph are expected today. But the weather isn’t expected to be dry enough to warrant a red-flag warning for fire danger, according the National Weather Service.
Such a warning is issued if the humidity is less than 15 percent and wind speeds exceed 15 mph, said Rachel Cobb, a meteorologist with the service’s Pendleton, Ore., office.
Temperatures are expected to range from the mid-80s to the upper 70s through the week, Cobb said, with temperatures increasing to the 90s by Sunday. Weather reports show humidity levels ranging from 21 percent to 67 percent through the week.
