Vantage Fire Update, Evacuation Orders Lifted, For Now

The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office now reports evacuation orders for the community of Vantage, WA have been lifted.

   Evac Orders Were Issued Wednesday Afternoon

The KCSO received word of the fast-moving fire, going along the Vantage Highway, which runs almost parallell to I-90, but on the north side of the freeway. It stretches from Vantage all the way to Ellensburg.

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Around 4:45PM, KCSO Deputies went door to door in the little community, Vantage is unincorporated and has about 70 residents, to make sure they left and help anyone who needed assistance.  Smoke and flames also caused the closure of I-90 Wednesday evening, visibility was near zerio.

  Multiple Crews Tackled the Blaze

As the fire swept east, over 80 fire fighters and multiple engines worked to bring it under control. The Ryegrass Coulee Fire, as it was officially known, did destroy 2 homes and caused extensive property damage at a third location, but no other structures were reached by the blaze.

As of Thursday, I-90 was re-opened, and residents allowed to return to their homes.

 Power Lines Also Brought Down by The Fire

The fire downed power lines along the Vantage Highway, which as of noon Thursday, remained closed until the lines can be restrored or moved safely away from the road.

The fire was sparked by a vehicle driving on the Vantage Highway, the KCSO says the driver has been contacted and is working with Officials. They did not elaborate further.