Kennewick fire prompts Level 3 evacuations south of W 50th
A fast-moving Kennewick fire south of the Tri-Cities triggered Level 3 GO NOW evacuations Friday night for Inspiration Heights and West 50th and areas south, as crews fought a roughly 20-acre vegetation blaze near East Locust Grove Road and East SR 397 with no containment reported.
Key Takeaways
- The Locust Grove vegetation fire broke out just before 9:30 p.m. south of Kennewick and grew to about 20 acres with 0% containment.
- Level 3 GO NOW evacuation orders cover Inspiration Heights and West 50th and south; police also reported evacuations near South Olympia Street south of West 45th Avenue.
- An evacuation center opened at the South Hills Church parking lot, 3700 W 27th Ave, Kennewick.
- Officials urged residents to leave immediately and asked others to contact anyone they know in the evacuation zone.
- Regional weather alerts flagged very high fire risk with gusty winds through Saturday across the Columbia Basin area.
Where is the Kennewick fire and how big is it?
According to Apple Valley News Now, several firefighting agencies responded to a large wildfire in the area of East Locust Grove Road and East SR 397, south of Kennewick. The blaze, identified as the Locust Grove fire, broke out just before 9:30 p.m. and was described as rapidly spreading.
Agency briefings listed the fire at about 20 acres with 0% containment. Hindustan Times, citing WatchDuty, similarly reported that the Locust Grove fire had grown to about 20 acres on Friday as the vegetation blaze expanded south of the Tri-Cities.
NonStop Local News reported police and fire crews working to contain a brush fire near South Olympia Street south of West 45th Avenue in Kennewick, underscoring how quickly the emergency unfolded across south Kennewick neighborhoods.
Who must evacuate right now for the Kennewick fire?
Apple Valley News Now said Level 3 GO NOW evacuations were issued for Inspiration Heights and for West 50th and south. Officers were working to evacuate all of West 50th and south and told people living in those areas to leave immediately.
NonStop Local News reported that officers were evacuating residents on West 50th and south of that area, while crews responded near South Olympia Street south of West 45th Avenue. Both outlets stressed a simple message: if you are in the warned zone, go now.
Police also urged the public to contact anyone they know in the evacuation area so those residents can get out safely. That call was repeated in local coverage as the fire continued to spread with no reported containment.
For ongoing local reporting on the Kennewick fire response, see the Apple Valley News Now Locust Grove fire update.
Where can evacuees go, and what should neighbors do?
By about 10:20 p.m., an evacuation center had been set up at the South Hills Church parking lot at 3700 W 27th Ave in Kennewick, Apple Valley News Now reported. Residents ordered to leave were directed to that location as agencies continued operations overnight.
Local officials and reporters asked people outside the zone to check on friends, family, and neighbors who live in Inspiration Heights or along West 50th and areas south. Rapid nighttime evacuations can leave residents without time to gather belongings, so early contact from others can matter.
If you are not under an order but live nearby, follow official police and fire guidance, avoid the fire area, and leave roadways clear for emergency vehicles. Conditions can change quickly when a vegetation fire is still at 0% containment.
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Why does this Kennewick fire matter tonight?
The combination of a fast-growing brush fire, Level 3 GO NOW orders, and zero reported containment raised immediate safety stakes for south Kennewick and nearby Benton County neighborhoods. A Level 3 order means leave now, not later.
NonStop Local also flagged a broader weather concern: very high fire risks as gusty winds pick up in the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys and Columbia Basin through Saturday. That backdrop helps explain why agencies moved quickly to warn and evacuate residents south of West 50th.
As of the latest local briefings cited here, the Locust Grove fire remained listed at roughly 20 acres with no containment percentage. Evacuation guidance for Inspiration Heights and West 50th and south remained the top public-safety message.
Anyone affected should monitor Kennewick Police and local fire updates, use the South Hills Church parking lot shelter if needed, and keep checking official channels before attempting to return home.