Washington State Wildfire Recap: Juniper Dunes Contained, Tule and Benton City Fires Leave Mark on Tri-Cities Region

After a turbulent stretch of wildfire activity in southeastern Washington, firefighters have made significant progress on several fronts — but the region remains on edge as new Red Flag Warnings loom heading into the weekend.

Juniper Dunes Fire: 13,003 Acres, 100% Contained

The Juniper Dunes Fire in Franklin County, which burned through the Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area, is now fully contained at 13,003 acres. At its peak, the fire produced significant smoke plumes affecting communities along the Columbia River Gorge. Crews from multiple agencies established perimeter control after days of aggressive suppression action. Walla Walla County Fire District #5 used Columbia School District facilities as a staging area and temporary base for responding crews.

Twin Sisters / Wallula Gap Fire: Contained at 8,200+ Acres

The Highway 730 / Twin Sisters Fire, which burned through the Wallula Gap area along the Columbia River, was contained and turned over to Walla Walla County fire agencies. The fire burned more than 8,200 acres before crews gained full control. At its height, a Level 3 "Go" evacuation order was in effect for Hatch Grade and nearby areas, with a Level 1 "Ready" alert along Highway 730. All evacuation orders have since been lifted.

Benton City Fire Destroys Structures

A wildfire that ignited east of Benton City proved destructive, burning five houses and 17 other structures before crews gained control. The fire illustrated the growing threat to homes in the wildland-urban interface of the Columbia Basin, where dry grass, low humidity, and gusty winds create explosive fire spread conditions.

Tule Fire Activity

The Tule Fire also contributed to the active fire picture across southeastern Washington during the week of June 16. As of current reports, the fire is under management with containment lines in place.

Washington DNR Monitoring Continues

The Washington Department of Natural Resources fire dashboard remains active and is updated continuously during fire season. With three large fires still listed for Washington in the NICC daily situation report as of June 25, the DNR and partner agencies continue to monitor conditions closely.