Powerline Fire In Grant County Forces Evacuations

MATTAWA, WA — Evacuations have been ordered for residents in the rural area around Mattawa due to the growing 4,000-acre Powerline fire in Grant County, according to the local sheriff's office.

More than 200 firefighter personnel are on-hand to beat back the brush fire that reportedly began July 14. Authorities said high winds in the region Sunday hampered efforts by pushing fire runs through the tall grass and brush fueling the blaze.

An official cause has yet to be announced, though unofficial reports indicate the fire may have started with a spark created by two unidentified motorcyclists, according to a news station in Kennewick.

Mattawa's Wahluke High School has been setup to accommodate evacuees in the fire's path, the sheriff's office said. The Powerline fire is currently the largest wildfire burning in Washington, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

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