YAKIMA, Wash. – Level 3: GO NOW evacuations are in place for residents of the Terrace Heights area due to a wildfire, however, power has been restored for all but 246 Pacific Power customers in the area, according to the utility.
The fire on the 600 block of Keys Road is currently about 60 acres in size and is not contained, according to the East Valley Fire District. Air assets from the Department of Natural Resources are on scene and state mobilization has been authorized to fight the fire.
West-Valley Fire Rescue is also responding to the fire and has three trucks on scene, according to a social media post from the department.
According to Yakima Valley Emergency Management, residents should get their families and pets and leave immediately.
The evacuation order is in place from the intersection of University Parkway and North Keys Road west to the Yakima River and south along the Yakima River to West Birchfield Road. Then West to the intersection of West Birchfield Road and South Keys Road. Then heading North on University Place Parkway to the intersection of North Keys Road and University Place Parkway.
An evacuation center hosted by the Red Cross is opening at 4 p.m. at the Terrace Heights Elementary School, located at 101 41st Ave. Anyone that has been evacuated can go to the evacuation center.
When going to an evacuation center, the Red Cross recommends bringing prescription medications, extra clothes, pillows and blankets, hygiene supplies, important documents and diapers, formula and toys for children.
Union Gap Police are reporting that traffic lights are out due to the widespread outage and reminding drivers that intersections should be used as four-way stops when the lights are out.
According to Pacific Power, emergency de-energization has cut power for 246 customers in the Yakima and Moxee area and the estimated time for power to be restored is 8:30 p.m.
Power was originally out for over 20,000 customers, but has since been restored for many. For updates on the outage residents are advised to text OUT to 722797 or visit pacificpower.net.
