A wildfire broke out near West Richland, Washington on June 14, 2007, scorching about 700 acres of land. Over 110 firefighters from multiple agencies responded to fight the fast-moving blaze, which was pushed by strong winds. No homes were damaged and no injuries were reported, though the fire came close to some rural residential properties. Residents worked alongside firefighters to battle flare ups and protect their homes, demonstrating a strong sense of community. The fire was contained by early evening thanks to the efforts of firefighters and local volunteers.

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Blaze rages near West Richland homes (w/video and slideshow)
This story was published Thursday, June 14th, 2007
By Nathan Isaacs, Herald staff writer
Mitch Sladle was on horseback when he first saw the wildfire's smoke Wednesday morning. Brian Wilson was at his
office in Richland. Lynn Dickinson was at her neighbor Deb Sampson's house. Jodi Rosso was home with her children,
Ethan and Natalie.
Within minutes they and dozens of their neighbors rushed to protect their rural Benton County homes from a fire that
eventually scorched about 700 acres of grass and brush between Harrison and Rupert roads, northwest of West
Richland.
"We have had a bit of an adventure today," Rosso said. "We saw the smoke coming over the hill. We came out to see
what was going on and the next thing we know we saw flames rushing down the hill and the neighbors' houses getting
very close to being burned."
The fire started about 11 a.m. as a rancher was mowing weeds near the pond on the Lewis and Clark Ranch, said
Devin Helland, spokesman for the Benton Fire District 1, which was one of several agencies that fought the fire.
The fire spread quickly, pushed by strong shifting winds. Within minutes, a thick smoke column could be seen more
than 30 miles away.
No injuries were reported and no homes were damaged.
Helland said more than 110 firefighters from Benton fire districts 1, 2 and 4; Franklin Fire District 3, and the Richland
and Kennewick fire departments responded to the blaze. Firefighters from Walla Walla also were brought in to help, and
an air tanker stationed in Richland dropped five loads of fire retardant on the blaze.
No one was evacuated, but police restricted access to the rural residential area that lies in the southern tip of land
bordered by the Yakima River on the east and west, near the Horn Rapids Dam.
"The police department and fire department have done a fabulous job getting out here really fast and taking control of
the situation," Rosso said.
By 4 p.m., Helland said, the fire was 100 percent contained. He said firefighters expected to remain in the area through
the night, extinguishing hot spots and flare-ups. He said this was the Mid-Columbia's first big natural fire of this year's
fire season, which is expected to be a high risk fire season.
While crews attacked the advancing fire with fire hoses and bulldozers, residents attacked smoldering brush piles and
flare-ups near their homes with garden hoses, hoes and shovels.
"I'm looking for the hot spots and trying to put them out. No real technique," said Michel Freeman, a music producer
visiting from Los Angeles who was enlisted to help his friend Wilson.
"The cheat-grass is like gasoline -- when the fire hits it, it's going to go," said Larry Goodenow, who was watering down
a neighbor's yard. "You have the fear the fire might get closer."
He recalled the Hanford fire of 2000, which was in the same general area as Wednesday's fire, although the earlier one
was much larger and more destructive.
Sladle said he was riding his horse when he first noticed the smoke. He was among the first to call 911. Other
residents also called their neighbors and families to alert them about the fire.
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"I was told there was a fire behind my house," said Wilson, a physician in Richland. "We drove home as fast as we
could."
Jim Seitz said his wife Neomi called him and told him "... the place is burning, there is a big fire."
More than a dozen residents ran home as flames came within yards of their properties.
Dickinson and Sampson carried shovels, tossing dirt on smoldering piles of brush and turning on irrigation sprinklers.
Sladle, wearing a bandana over his face to protect him from the smoke, helped carry the fire hose used by Benton Fire
District 1 firefighter Regan Hurlbert as he attacked some flames. Rosso and her children carried coolers of water and
juice to the others.
"We're just helping the neighbors," Dickinson said. "This is a wonderful community."
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