Wildland fire burns near Mattawa

Cause under investigation

MATTAWA - Between 2,200 to 2,600 acres of sagebrush burned in a wildland fire about 14 miles south of Mattawa, Grant County Fire District No. 8's chief said Tuesday.

The fire was contained at about 7:30 p.m. Monday night after five hours were spent fighting the blaze, said Chief Dave Hargroves.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and Hargroves said he couldn't elaborate. He did say investigators know where the fire started.

Some firefighters remained on the scene Tuesday afternoon for fire watch, he said.

State routes 24 and 243 were initially closed, but later opened, along with Road O Southwest, he said.

On Tuesday morning, the state Department of Transportation was trying to close Road L Southwest and Road 28 Southwest for an hour because of fire equipment on the road, according to the state patrol.

Hargroves described the current conditions as dry and said the fire could have been worse than what it was. He credited the responding agencies for their help.

Firefighters from Adams County Fire District No. 5, Franklin County Fire District No. 4, Hanford Reach, state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Benton County Fire Districts No. 1 and 4 also fought the fire, he said.

Although the fire came close to three wheat fields and a home, no structures or wheat fields were lost, Hargroves said.

All but about 100 acres of the fire burned on the Hanford Reach National Monument, he said.