Wildfire near Ephrata burns 1,000 acres

GRANT COUNTY - A wildfire northwest of Ephrata burned at least 1,000 acres, including 100 acres of farmland, through the night Wednesday and into Thursday morning.

Multiple fire agencies from Grant County, Douglas County Fire, Adams County Fire District 5, Ephrata Fire Department, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and state Department of Natural Resources were working Wednesday night at a large wind-driven fire near Sagebrush Flats Road and Palisades Road along the Grant and Douglas County line, according to Kyle Foreman, of the Grant County Sheriff's Office. Two helicopters were also on scene Wednesday night but were called off when it got dark.

Level 1 evacuation warnings were issued for residents in the Rimrock meadows community, about 16 miles northwest of Ephrata. Grant County commissioners also declared a state of emergency at about 8 p.m., Foreman said.

County and local fire resources transitioned off the fire line about 1 a.m. and crews from the U.S Bureau of Land Management and state Department of Natural Resources continued to manage the fire.

Jim Duck, of the Central Washington Interagency Coordination Center, said the fire was under control Thursday morning and said he expected the fire to be 100 percent contained Thursday evening. Several structures were threatened but no damage was reported.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

"It was a long day for all Columbia Basin firefighters, most of which are volunteers, and many of whom have been awake and fighting wildfires since 3 a.m. Wednesday," Foreman said. "The public should be grateful for their service and dedication, and also for the state and federal resources working hard all across central and eastern Washington."