Did Cigarettes Trigger Brush Fires Near Freeway? WSP Thinks So

Units responded to several brush fires that popped up alongside Interstate 82 near Highway 395 Thursday afternoon, and Washington State Patrol troopers think they could have been triggered by a careless (or multiple thoughtless) drivers.

Shortly after noon, several small fires popped up, and grew quickly before being snuffed out by Benton County First District One crews.

The fires were possibly triggered by cigarettes thrown from a vehicle, some butts were found at the scene where one of the fires popped up. Troopers and other officials remind drivers you should never toss used cigs from a vehicle, but especially with the dry conditions we're having, don't do it!