Colwash Fire: Urgent Evacuations and Rapid Growth in Washington State

The Colwash Fire has rapidly escalated, transforming from a small vegetation fire into a massive threat to life and property in central Washington. As of the latest reports, the fire has surged to approximately 8,000 acres, pushing across county lines and forcing immediate evacuations in both Yakima and Benton Counties.

If you are in the affected areas, please prioritize your safety and follow the directives of local emergency management agencies immediately.

Critical Evacuation Alerts: Level 3 (GO NOW!)

Authorities have issued Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuation orders, meaning there is an immediate threat to life. If you are in the following areas, leave immediately:

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• Yakima County: WA-22 from Glade Rd to the county line, including Byron Hill Rd.
• Benton County: West-central areas south of Prosser, specifically east of the Yakima/Benton county line, south of WA-22, south and west of WA-221, and north of Sellards Road.

For those in Level 2 (BE SET) zones, please ensure your bags are packed and you are ready to depart the moment an order is upgraded.

Fire Origin and Growth

The blaze originated approximately 2 miles northeast of BIA Rd 15 and BIA Rd 196 near Toppenish, WA. The fire’s growth has been alarmingly swift. What started as a 25-30 acre brush fire quickly climbed to 700 acres, then 4,000, and has now reached an estimated 8,000 acres according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

Emergency Shelters and Road Closures

To support displaced residents, a Red Cross Shelter has been established. If you have been evacuated and have nowhere to go, please head to:

Prosser High School
1500 Paterson Road, Prosser, WA 99350

Traffic Warnings

To ensure first responders can access the fire lines and residents can evacuate safely, the Prosser Police Department has requested that the public stay off WA-22 between Market St and Byron St. Additionally, Sellards Road has been shut down from Bert James Road to the county line.

How to Stay Updated

Wildfire situations change by the minute. We strongly urge residents to monitor official channels for the most accurate and timely information:

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• Follow Yakima Valley Emergency Management and Benton County Emergency Services on social media.
• Visit InciWeb for official national incident reports.
• Check the American Red Cross for shelter updates and assistance.

Stay safe, keep your emergency kits ready, and follow all law enforcement instructions to ensure the safety of your family and the community.