Diamond Butte Fire forces closure at Ahtanum State Forest
The Washington Department of Natural Resources is immediately closing Ahtanum Meadows, Ahtanum Campground, and White Ridges Trailhead to assist with fire suppression efforts with the Diamond Butte Fire.
Access to the Middle Fork Road will be limited to authorized personnel only.
The closures are expected to last at least through the weekend.
The Diamond Butte Fire, which has been burning since Sunday, was started by numerous lightning strikes on the Yakama Nation Reservation, about 20 miles west of Yakima.
A total of 200 personnel are on scene working in extremely difficult terrain.
So far, the fire has destroyed about 331 acres of heavy timber.