TIETON, Wash. (AP) -- Damage is estimated at $25 million from a fire whipped by 30 mph winds that destroyed three fruit warehouses, forced the evacuation of 150 people and burned a square mile of grassland, the Yakima Fire Department said Wednesday.
Three people were treated for injuries and two of them were transported to a hospital for treatment during the four-alarm fire that broke out late Tuesday, Deputy Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said.
Three tanks containing about 23,000 pounds of ammonia and a 9,000-gallon propane tank also were destroyed.
Fire crews from across the upper Yakima Valley scrambled to try to contain the flames after the fire started about 9:15 p.m. at CPC International Apple Co. in this small town about 10 miles northwest of Yakima.
The fire that began in one of the fruit warehouses spread to nearby brush and threatened more than 100 homes. It also trigged an ammonia release and caused the evacuation of about 150 people, authorities said.
Cardboard packaging stored next to a warehouse at the company was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene.
The fire started in packing materials and the cause remained under investigation, according to a statement issued early Wednesday by Yakima County sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Ketchum.
State fire marshal's officials and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene.
A shelter was established at Highland High School.
