PHOTOS: A military aircraft crashed near Rimrock Lake on Saturday, sparking a wildfire that prompted a response from local and federal firefighting agencies. The pilot safely escaped from the aircraft before the crash and was transported to a hospital, according to Naches Fire. The aircraft involved was an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, according to U.S. Marine Corps Station Miramar.

In a statement, the Marine Corps said, “The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation. To preserve the integrity of the investigation, no additional details are available at this time. Mishap investigations can take several months to complete, depending on various factors.” The crash ignited a wildfire in the area that firefighters are actively working to suppress.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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A detached outbuilding was destroyed in a fire Saturday evening in South Hill, according to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. Firefighters were called to a structure fire in the 14100 block of Meridian Avenue East. A large column of smoke could be seen as crews were responding, prompting additional resources to be sent to the scene.

When firefighters arrived, they found the detached outbuilding fully engulfed in flames. Crews fought the fire from outside the building, using hose lines and aerial water streams to contain and extinguish the flames.

The outbuilding was destroyed, but no injuries were reported. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue said 13 resources responded, including six fire suppression units, three EMS units and four command or support units. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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Containment on the Snake River Fire burning near Clarkston continues to grow as of Sunday night. According to the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team #1, containment on the fire reached 70% contained as of Sunday night. It also remains at 686 acres burned.

Firefighters from Whitman County, Asotin County, Clarkston, Lewiston, Wheatland and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources all responded to the fire burning in Whitman County. The fire, located about four miles west of Clarkston, was reported around 6 p.m. Friday night. By the time the first crew arrived on scene, strong winds had pushed the fire up a hillside.

Due to the steep, rocky terrain, firefighters could not reach and contain the head of the fire, according to Asotin County Fire District 1. Air support was authorized Saturday, and firefighters performed suppression efforts as conditions allow. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and there have been no reported injuries, according to the department.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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The fire closed both directions of US 97 near the SR 142 intersection north of Goldendale, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. Travelers were urged to use alternate routes and avoid the area if possible until further notice.

A brush fire on Tule Road near Toppenish has grown to 3,000 acres. Fire District 5 has responded to the fire. Additional stations have also been requested. Crews have requested dozers as the fire has moved uphill and was first reported at 10 acres. Aircraft at the scene later advised that the fire had reached 3,000 acres.

KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Firefighters were scrambling to fight fires across Benton and Franklin counties and the western edge of Walla Walla County over the weekend, with the start of summer still a week away. One fire east of Benton City was forcing some residents to be evacuated as it burned near the Old Inland Empire Highway just north of Interstate 82. The blaze also knocked out power in Prosser.

About 3:30 p.m. Sunday the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team said incident management teams were arriving to help with fires burning in the Juniper Dunes area of Franklin County and near the Twin Sisters in Walla Walla County just across the Columbia River from Benton County. As of Sunday afternoon what appeared to be the largest wildland fire was burning in the area of the Juniper Dunes recreation and wilderness areas northeast of Pasco.

It had grown to 600 acres, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. A number of fire trucks were dispatched to the Juniper Dunes fire just before 8 p.m. Saturday to near Kruse Road, west of the area popular with off-road vehicles, hikers and equestrians. The fire chiefs association reported the fire burning mostly northeast of Juniper Dunes Road on Sunday.

Tri-City Herald – Metered Site

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