YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. – UPDATE JULY 23 5:27 a.m.
Yakima Valley Emergency Management issued new evacuation orders early Tuesday morning while crews continued to respond to the Black Canyon Fire in the Upper Wenas area.
Officials are requesting for anyone in the area of Lakeview Road and Elk Ridge Lane in Selah to get their family and pets in their vehicles and leave now!
Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations are set for the following areas:
All of Lakeview Road from North Wenas Road to the end of Lakeview RoadAll of Elk Ridge Lane from North Wenas Road to the end of Elk Ridge Lane.All homes north of North Wenas Road from Lakeview Road to the east end of Lake Wenas.
UPDATE JULY 22 11:47 p.m.
All evacuations for the Black Canyon Fire have been downgraded to level 2 (BE SET), according to Yakima Valley Emergency Management.
UPDATE 11:08 p.m.
State fire mobilization has been authorized for the Black Canyon Fire, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The fire is reportedly 1,500 acres in size and burning old growth, sage and cheatgrass. It is threatening homes, the electical grid, irrigation and cultural areas.
Level 3 (GO NOW) and level 2 (BE SET) evacuations are still in place.
UPDATE 9:52 p.m.
A level 2 (BE SET) evacuation notice for Umptanum Road at Durr Road south to the county line is in place, according to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office.
UPDATE 9:05 p.m.
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office announced that Umptanum Road is closed at Durr Road due to the Black Canyon Fire.
UPDATE 8:49 p.m.
According to DNR Wildfire Public Information Officer Ryan Rodruck, the Black Canyon Fire is now 1,000 acres in size.
An additional level 2 (BE SET) evacuation area was announced by Yakima County Emergency Management to include the north side of North Wenas Road from Boyd Road to Wenas Lake, including Fremuith Road.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE
A wildfire is burning over 200 acres on Department of Natural Resources lands about 10 miles northwest of Naches.
DNR Wildfire Public Information Officer Ryan Rodruck says the Black Canyon Fire is being fought by DNR crews on the ground and in the air.
Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations are in place on the north side of North Wenas Road from Audubon Road to Wenas Lake. Level 2 (BE SET) evacuations are in place from the south side of North Wenas Road from Audubon Road to Wenas Lake, per Yakima Valley Emergency Management.
Rodruck reports that no structures are being threatened and no roads have been closed.
