120 acres burn in fire near Ephrata
A three-acre wildland fire destroyed two older buildings Sunday about six miles northwest of Ephrata.
EPHRATA - Someone is setting fire to a field northwest of Ephrata. Two fires have been put out at the same location off of Sage Brush Flats, about six miles northwest of town.
On Monday, crews were still working to contain the fires.
It started about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Grant County Fire District 13 and the Ephrata Fire Department responded to a three-acre wildland fire on Road 19 Northwest. According to a District 13 statement, an older storage building was fully engulfed when they arrived and the fire spread to a second building containing several barrels of an unknown substance. The second building was allowed to burn because the barrels began exploding. Fire crews were on scene for several hours.
Crews were called back to the area about 12:45 p.m. Monday as the fire was re-ignited. High winds spread the fire, covering about 120 acres, according to reports.
The fire was contained about 2 p.m. by members of districts 13 and 7 and the Ephrata Fire Department.
According to reports, the property owner had not been in the area for some time and it appeared an unknown person was setting the fires. Initial reports from Sunday's fire stated the fire may have been related to subjects cleaning up.
The Grant County Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire.