Fast-moving Benton City wildfire forces immediate evacuations and destroys homes in Washington.

A fast-growing grass and brush fire near Benton City, Washington, prompted Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders for neighborhoods around Pear Drive and North Valley Drive Way, Kiona Village Mobile Home Park, and an additional area south of Keene Road. The fire grew to about 1,000 acres, with one report estimating it at 1,149 acres, and threatened homes, infrastructure and Interstate 84. At least one home was confirmed destroyed, and state fire mobilization and aerial firefighting resources were deployed. A temporary evacuation shelter was established at Ki-Be High School.
Dispatch records say firefighters were called at about 3 p.m. on Sept. 25 to a reported brush fire near Northeast Second Street south of Benton City; it had already spread across roughly a quarter-acre and was moving toward nearby homes when crews arrived.
The initial evacuation zone included Apple, Cherry, Berry and Plum drives, in addition to the subdivision reached by Pear Drive and North Valley Drive Way and the Kiona Village mobile home park.
Officials defined the later-added evacuation area as southeast of State Route 224, southwest of Keene Road and north of Kennedy Road, and urged residents to leave immediately without stopping to gather belongings.
Emergency officials asked residents to reserve 911 calls for emergencies and not call the line to ask questions about the fire.
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