Firefighters Battling Vantage Highway Fire in Kittitas County

Firefighters are battling flames of the Vantage Highway Fire as the blaze continues to grow in Kittitas County. On Monday the State fire assistance was mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters who are working to contain the fire under a red flag warning that lasts until 9:00 pm Tuesday night.

The fire is expected to grow rapidly in the hot dry heat

The numbers are changing rapidly but at last check the fire was 8,000 acres at 10 percent contained. Fire officials say "fire activity is expected to pick up around midday, and you may see a column forming as temperatures and wind speeds increase and humidity levels decrease." The City of Vantage is currently under a Level 2 evacuation notice - BE PREPARED to leave and alert to changes. Vantage Highway is closed from Park Creek Road through Recreation Drive. Ginkgo State Park is closed. Power has been temporarily interrupted for safety purposes and due to infrastructure damage.

The fire started on Monday afternoon

Fire officials say the Vantage Highway Fire started Monday at about 1:00 p.m. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
A state press release says;
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray remains activated to Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Vantage Highway Fire.  Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau will assist local resources and mutual aid resources by providing strike teams.  State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel is working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.

The Kittitas Secondary School is the Incident Command Post for Southeast WA Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team, which is collaborating with the Washington State Patrol-Fire Marshal’s office for this state mobilization response.