Sept. 18--A fire broke out on U.S. Highway 12 on Sunday afternoon at milepost 355 near Waitsburg after a controlled burn escaped control lines.
A farmer was clearing a field when winds pushed the fire toward the highway about 3:30 p.m. and it got out of control, said Brian Callahan, assistant fire chief for Walla Walla Fire District 2. Five agencies responded to the fire with 20 different engines, tenders and command vehicles and about 35 personnel.
The fire grew to about 300 acres and Highway 12 was closed for about an hour and half while crews battled the blaze, Callahan said. Fire crews were concerned about the fire potentially jumping the highway. It took fire crews about two hours to contain and control the fire, and mop-up finished at about 5:45 p.m before Highway 12 was reopened.
Tony Buhr can be reached at [email protected] or 526-8325.
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