WA state sends air support to fight fire threatening homes, crops near Kahlotus

KENNEWICK — The state of Washington was sending in help Monday evening for Franklin County fire officials tackling a large wildfire near Kahlotus.

The Wallace Walker Road Fire began about 2:20 p.m. Monday and was threatening crops, homes and power infrastructure, said a state release.

By 7:30 p.m. the blaze had burned 350 acres of grass and brush and was growing.

The state assistance was mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the state firefighting resources at the request of Don Hentges, a fire commissioner with Franklin County Fire District 2.

No evacuations were in effect at 9:30 p.m. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

So far, mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau had ordered just some air resources to help fire crews in the rural area about 50 miles north of the Tri-Cities.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources, said a news release.