Wildfire Burns Near Goldendale Highway Closed To Yakima

The smoke billows in the distance in this shot of the Satus Pass fire taken by a viewer from Centerville, Wash., July 24, 2013. (Devan McGraw, via Report It on KOIN.com)

TOPPENISH, Wash. (AP/KOIN) — Washington Transportation Department officials say a new south-central Washington wildfire burning on both sides of U.S. Highway 97 has prompted the closure of a stretch of that highway between Toppenish and Goldendale.

The Washington Transportation Department reported late Wednesday afternoon, July 24, that flames and smoke were causing hazardous driving conditions like this along Washington’s Highway 97. (WSDOT)

The department said late Wednesday afternoon that flames and smoke were causing hazardous driving conditions.

Highway 97 “is closed from mile-marker 12 all the way to mile-marker 69,” said KOIN.com Report It contributor Devan McGraw.

As of 10:30 p.m. an estimated 70 people have been evacuated.
The Yakima Herald-Republic says 40 firefighters and two water-dropping helicopters are fighting the blaze.

The size of the fire was not immediately clear. It was reported Wednesday morning on the Yakama reservation north of the summit of Satus Pass.


The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Our Fathers House Fellowship, 207 S. Klickatat in Goldendale, Wash., in response to this wildfire.

NOTE:  I first saw the atomic bomb type smoke yesterday afternoon, when walking out to continue chores.  My view was over the tops of the forest.  There's lots of dry forest between us and that fire.

Neighbors call neighbors to see who knows what.  The fire isn't yet listed on the http://www.inciweb.org/state/49/   Incident Information System, which covers all fires in the US and becomes very thorough.

This morning is calm, without wind and depending on exactly where the fire is will determine what happens next.  The fire 2 years ago near this same area was very scary with enough fire fighters setting up a tent city which made it the 2nd largest "city" in our county.  That was closer than this one.  Last time there was only about 8 miles of dry forest that separated the fire from Happy Tails.

We spent a couple days phone time lining up crates and extra help.   We have sufficient crates this year for each dog, crates are dismantled,    We're all hopeful that this fire won't develop further.