Update: North Franklin County fire under control after forcing campers to evacuate

A fire burning near Lower Monumental Dam in north Franklin County is contained after scorching 800 acres.

The fire appears to have started after an unattended camp fire on federal land got out of control sometime before 2 p.m. Monday, Franklin County Fire District 3 Chief Mike Harris told the Tri-City Herald.

The fire quickly spread through farm and cattle range lands between Highway 263 and Wallace Walker Road

While the fire threatened a few homes along Wallace Walker Road, it didn’t end up coming close to any of them, Harris said.

It also threatened crops and power lines, officials said.

Campers and anglers at Windust Park, about 10 miles south of Kahlotus on the lower Snake River, were evacuated as a precaution.

Harris said the fire stopped before crossing the Highway into the park.

It’s unclear how many people were asked to leave the remote park, which has about 24 primitive campsites.

About 35 firefighters from across Franklin, Adams and Benton counties helped fight the fire. Two helicopters from the Department of Natural Resources were used to put water on the fire, located about 50 miles north of the Tri-Cities.

The state assistance was mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the state firefighting resources at the request of Don Hentges, a fire commissioner with Franklin County Fire District 2.