Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Smoke creates "whiteout" conditions, prompting I-90 closures
RITZVILLE – Smoke from multiple wildfires is creating near-whiteout conditions along portions of Interstate 90, prompting the state Department to of Transportation to close the highway.
Fires erupted earlier this afternoon at multiple locations along the highway.
"Brush fire smoke over road, on I-90 eastbound at Milepost 218," an alert issued by the agency said, announcing the interstate closure.
The fire started about 2:26 p.m., the state reported.
"It's like white-out conditions here because of the smoke," Ritzville resident and businessman Corey Bartlett said.
Gusting winds were also pushing heavy smoke onto roadways.
Transportation officials closed the interstate between Mileposts 218-220. At 4 p.m., they reopened one lane of traffic flow in each direction.
High winds were also driving flames through sage and dry grass just west of the city, blackening the area along Gun Club Road.
"This fire is growing," Bartlett said.
Fire evacuation warnings were issued for the area west of the 500 block of Main Avenue in Ritzville, he said.
In Washington, evacuation is voluntary. Evacuations notices come as:
Level 1 – Be alert; fire is in the area
Level 2 – A fire is growing and residents who may want to evacuate should be ready to leave
Level 3 – Fire is imminent and those choosing to evacuate should leave
Meanwhile, another fire was burning about 10 miles northeast of Sprague , near Fishtrap Lake in Spokane County.
That blaze was reported at 1:59 p.m.
State officials shut down interstate travel at 2:44 p.m.
"Consider other routes," Transportation officials advised.
The interstate reopened near Sprague at 3:48 p.m.
The area remains under a Red Flag Warning — meaning weather conditions could lead to wildfire growth — until 11 p.m.
Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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