Kittitas County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Ryegrass Coulee Fire located in Kittitas County, near Vantage. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 8, 2026, at 7:45 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief William Rose, Kittitas County Fire District 4.
The Ryegrass Coulee Fire started on July 8, 2026, at approximately 4:51 p.m. This fire is estimated at 600 acres and growing. It is burning in grass, brush, and timber and is threatening homes, power infrastructure, and structures in the community of Vantage. Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray is activated to Level 2, partial activation, to help coordinate state assistance for the Ryegrass Coulee Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered two wildland strike teams and air resources to aid in containment efforts. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are both en route and working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.
Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization. The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at http://www.wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.
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