Colwash Fire in Yakima County Expands to Over 38,000 Acres, Triggers Evacuations
The Colwash Fire, which began as a 25-30 acre vegetation fire in Yakima County, Washington, on the morning of Saturday, August 22, 2026, has rapidly grown to 38,798 acres by 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The fire remains at 0% containment and has prompted Level 3 evacuation orders for residents in Yakima and Benton counties. The fire has been spreading quickly, with significant growth reported throughout Saturday and into Sunday. The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray has been activated to coordinate state assistance. A Red Cross shelter has been established at Prosser High School, located at 1500 Paterson Road, to assist evacuees. Local authorities are closely monitoring the situation and providing updates on evacuation zones and fire progression. (Source time: Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:25:32 GMT)