September 2, 2023
Benton County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Yellepit Fire located in Benton County, near the town of Finley. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on September 2, 2023, at 8:15 a.m. at the request of Fire Chief Lonnie Click, Benton County Fire District 1.
The Yellepit Fire started on September 1, 2023, at approximately 6:18 p.m. This fire is estimated at 2,000 acres and growing. It is burning in grass and brush and is threatening crops, power infrastructure, and the BNSF mainline. No evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray remains activated at Level 1 to help coordinate state assistance for the Yellepit Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered 2 strike teams and State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are currently working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.
Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization. The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at: https://wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.
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Release sent by Deputy State Fire Marshal Amy Thornton