UPDATE: 80 miles of Highway 14 still shut down by 56,000-acre wildfire
A nearly 80-mile stretch of highway across south Eastern Washington remained closed Tuesday due to a huge wildfire.
WashDOT shut down Highway 14 in both directions Monday afternoon between the Umatilla Bridge in Benton County and Biggs Junction in Klickitat County except for local travel. There are no other bridges crossing the Columbia River along that 78-mile stretch.
The Newell Road wildfire is near Roosevelt, Wash., and continues growing.
An estimated 56,000 acres are now involved, with Level 2 and 3 evacuation notices ordered in the area. It is also the cause of the haze seen across the Tri-Cities.
WashDOT said in a news release that the highway closure is necessary to ensure the safety of local residents and to allow emergency responders access to the area.
Goldendale Middle School is being used as an evacuation shelter, and is allowing dogs and cats. Large numbers of animals or large animals are being sheltered at the Goldendale Fairgrounds.
Klickitat Emergency Management is also asking people not to fly drones over the fire, as it interferes with the ability of firefighting aircraft to do their job.
About 575 people, including four helicopters, are assigned to fighting the blaze.
The closure means travelers heading across Washington state will have to either cross the Columbia River into Oregon to take Interstate 84 and or go north across the Cascades.
A wreck near Vantage closed down part Interstate 90 Monday evening after a truck ignited a brush fire.
Westbound lanes were closed near the Vantage bridge and eastbound lanes were closed 17 miles east of Ellensburg.
All were back open for traffic by 7 p.m.
This story was originally published July 24, 2023 at 4:18 PM with the headline "UPDATE: 80 miles of Highway 14 still shut down by 56,000-acre wildfire."
