A vehicle fire on SR-17 ignited a brush fire along the highway just before 2 AM Thursday morning, causing Washington State Patrol to close it between mileposts 101 and 102.
Download the KXRX Mobile App Now
The road was back open by 2:25 AM, only twenty-six minutes from closure to reopening.
SR-17 Vehicle Fire Closed Highway Early Thursday Morning
WSP District 6 posted at 1:59 AM that a vehicle fire had spread into the dry brush alongside SR-17 just north of the SR 2 junction near Ephrata. At nearly 2 AM on a Thursday, the traffic impact was minimal, but the fire danger was real. Eastern Washington brush in late July is as dry as it gets, and a vehicle fire at the roadside in those conditions can spread fast.
Luckily, they did not need much time at all.
By 2:25 AM, WSP confirmed the fire had been put out, and the roadway was fully reopened. Trooper Kelsey Harding posted a thank you to the firefighters who responded and got it done…