Rte 24/241 Fire Now 3000 Acres
Hwy 24/241 Fire
Fire crews are battling a nearly 3000 acre grass fire in Yakima County about 20 miles north of Sunnyside.
The fire started about noon today and has shut down portions of state routes 24 and 241. It is almost fifty percent contained
The state patrol says the fire was started by a motorcycle that crashed on highway 24 -- two people were injured in the accident-- one flown to Seattle for treatment.
The fire is burning an area near the junction of state routes 24 and 241 where a huge fire in 2009 destroyed the landmark Silver Dollar cafe, which has since been rebuilt.
Two houses on the south side of the fire are threatened--125 firefighters are on the ground and additional crews are fighting the fire from the air. They are concerned about the winds picking up if a storm comes through tonight.
Here are the details on the highway closures:
LOCATION: Southbound SR 241 at Milepost 12, SR 24 eastbound at milepost 15 and SR 24 westbound at milepost 38.
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: Multiple closures due to a grass fire in the vicinity. SR 241 closed at MP 12, which is 4 miles north of Sunnyside. SR 241 closed eastbound at MP 15, approximately 10 miles from Moxee. SR 241 closed westbound at the intersection of SR 24 and SR 240, near Hanford reservation .
OTHER: Due to the nature of this incident a reopening time is not known