Vantage residents evacuate with ‘mere minutes’ to spare after vehicle sparks wildfire along highway

VANTAGE, Wash. — A devastating, fast-moving wildfire claimed homes, structures, and vehicles in the small town of Vantage on Wednesday afternoon, leaving some residents with just minutes to evacuate.

The fire started at 4:46 p.m., 4 miles west of town on Vantage Highway.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office believes the fire was accidentally caused by a vehicle traveling along the highway. The driver identified himself and is cooperating with the fire investigation, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

“It was clear that this fire was going to escalate quickly due to extreme winds. We called for immediate multi-agency support, including bulldozers and aircraft. Fortunately, there were zero injuries to residents and the firefighters,” wrote Kittitas County Fire District #4, thanking the various fire districts and deputies across Western Washington that responded to help. “If it wasn’t for the quick action from everyone, this could have resulted in a much bigger disaster, including possible loss of lives.”

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office issued Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation notices to everyone in the 50-person town of Vantage as deputies went door to door, in some cases warning residents just mere minutes before the fire reached their property.

Residents on the south side of I-90 were notified of a Level 2 “Get Ready” evacuation status, as the Washington State Department of Transportation shut down both directions of I-90 due to smoke and fire danger, and the Vantage Highway was closed near the city of Kittitas due to fire and downed power lines.

According to the sheriff’s office, around 80 personnel were involved in the firefighting operation at its height.

“This very fast-moving fire involved and destroyed two primary residences near the north end of Vantage and did extensive damage to equipment on a third property,” the sheriff’s office confirmed Thursday morning.

Fire officials estimate the fire burned approximately 575 acres, but the Kittitas County Fire Marshal is continuing to assess the extent of the fire and the damage it caused.

For more information, visit the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office.

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