A rapidly spreading brush and grass fire near Benton City in eastern Washington triggered Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders Friday evening, destroyed at least one home, forced the closure of Interstate 82 in both directions, and prompted Washington State to activate its full fire mobilization apparatus — all within hours of ignition.

The Second Street Fire ignited at approximately 2:40 p.m. on Friday, September 25, in grass, brush, and urban forested areas near northeast Second Street, south of Benton City. By early Saturday morning, the fire had burned an estimated 800 to 1,000 acres with zero containment reported, according to Benton County Emergency Services.

Evacuation Orders and Shelter Locations

Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders are in effect through at least Saturday morning for the following areas:

  • Kiona Village and surrounding roads
  • The area from Kennedy Road and State Route 224 to the intersection of North Sunset
  • Kennedy Road remains closed to all traffic

Residents under Level 3 orders are directed to leave immediately and not wait for further instructions. Two emergency shelters have been established for displaced residents:

  • Central Church, 1124 Stevens Drive, Richland (American Red Cross evacuation center)
  • Kiona-Benton City High School, 1205 Horne Road, Benton City

State Mobilization Activated

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized state fire mobilization resources at 4:30 p.m. Friday, putting the state's full emergency response apparatus into action. The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray was fully activated to Level 1 — its highest operational status.

Fire Mobilization specialists called for six wildland strike teams to assist local crews already stretched by the rapid fire growth. Additional resources from across the state were ordered to the scene to protect threatened homes and critical infrastructure.

Interstate 82 Closed

The Washington State Department of Transportation closed Interstate 82 in both directions between Benton City and the Tri-Cities area due to active fire encroachment along the highway corridor. Detour routes were established:

  • Eastbound traffic is diverted at Exit 96 near Benton City
  • Westbound traffic is diverted at Exit 102 near Kennewick
  • The on-ramp from I-182 westbound to I-82 westbound is also closed

Rail traffic was also suspended in the affected corridor as a precautionary measure.

Investigation Underway

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Wind-driven conditions in the Yakima Valley contributed to rapid early spread, according to initial incident reports. Benton County is one of several eastern Washington counties that saw elevated fire weather conditions on Friday afternoon as dry air and moderate winds swept through the Columbia Basin.

Residents near Benton City should monitor Benton County Emergency Services at bces.wa.gov for the latest evacuation zone updates. Anyone with information about the fire's origin is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.