State resources deployed to combat 6,500-acre Black Canyon Fire in Yakima County

WENAS, Wash. — State resources have mobilized to help local firefighters battle the Black Canyon Fire burning northwest of Naches in Yakima County.

The fire ignited at 4:35 p.m. on Monday in an area above Wenas Lake near Black Canyon, approximately 10 miles northwest of Naches and about 15 miles northwest of Selah.

Black Canyon Fire PIO Ryan Rodruck said the fire is burning through lighter fuels like grass and sage, but combines with the wind, the fire has grown to 6,500 acres.

“It significantly increased that negative fire behavior that increases the rate of spread," Rodruck said.

Multiple structures are threatened and evacuation orders have been issued for area homes. As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, a Level 2  "GET SET" evacuation notice was in place for residents in the Wenas and Conrad Ranch areas of Selah.

However, the latest evacuation information is available on the Yakima Valley Emergency Management page on Facebook.

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter for evacuees at the Selah Civic Center, located at 216 S. 1st St. in Selah.

It's at least the third time in the past six years the area has been threatened by a wildfire.

The Cow Canyon Fire burned through 5,800 acres in 2022, just two years after the Evans Canyon Fire destroyed more than 75,000 acres in 2020.

Now, the Black Canyon Fire had already reached 6,500 acres as of Tuesday.

“Containment crews are making significant progress; no official containment number to report, but progress on the ground continues to move steadily forward,” Rodruck said.

Rodruck said the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but fire investigators are on scene.

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