UPDATE: Ryegrass Coulee Fire Near Vantage at 535 Acres, Evacuations Lifted This Morning

The Ryegrass Coulee Fire that ignited Wednesday afternoon near Vantage in Kittitas County is now at 535.4 acres with 10% containment as of this morning.

There is already some good news to report after a frightening and sudden overnight situation for the community of Vantage.

Around 10 AM this morning (Thursday July 9), all evacuation notices for the Vantage area have been lifted.

Wildfire Wednesday Night Caused Evacuation Notices for the Vantage Area

The fire started at approximately 4:51 PM Wednesday, burning through grass, brush, and timber near the Vantage Highway at milepost 26. By 7:45 PM, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized a full state mobilization because local and mutual aid resources were exhausted.

Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations were in effect for the entire Vantage area as the fire threatened homes, power infrastructure, and community structures along the Columbia River corridor.

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By Wednesday evening, two wildland strike teams and air resources were working the fire alongside local crews. I-90 eastbound reopened quickly, but westbound I-90 over the Vantage Bridge stayed closed because of the fire activity on the nearby highway. The Vantage Highway stayed closed because of downed power lines from the fire.

Residents who returned to Vantage Wednesday night were warned to stay away from downed power lines and to expect to be without power through the night.

Thursday Morning There Was Good News

The Kittitas County Sheriff confirmed around 10 AM Thursday that all evacuation notices for Vantage have been removed. Residents who evacuated from their homes could return.

The fire perimeter uploaded to the National Interagency Fire Center shows 535.4 acres, slightly less than the initial 600-acre estimate. The Vantage Highway remains closed today because of fire activity and downed power lines.

Anyone traveling through the area should check current road conditions before heading out.

WSDOT, the Washington State Patrol, and the Kittitas County Sheriff's Facebook page are the most reliable sources for real-time updates.

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