Strong winds hampered efforts to contain wildfire in Paterson

PATERSON, Wash.-- About 1,000 acres of Fish and Wildlife land was burned in a wildfire in southern Benton County Sunday afternoon.

Benton County Fire District #6 Chief Rollen Watts says the fire was unusual because of the strong northerly winds that were blowing during a Red Flag Warning.

"With those winds, mother nature just took it where it wanted to go," Watts said. "It was jumping roads, jumping parking lots. We're used to wind, but it's usually coming from the south, pushing to fire toward structures."

No structures were lost in the blaze.

Watts said they're not sure yet what caused the main fire, but he did say that several other fires broke out while fighting the primary fire, and those smaller fires were caused by electrical lines arcing in the strong winds, and tree limbs falling onto power lines.

Despite the large number of wildfires burning throughout the region, BCFD6 got help from crews with the Klickitat County Fire District 10, Benton County Fire Protection District #5, the Kennewick Fire Department, Richland Fire Department, West Richland Fire Department, Benton County fire District #1, and Fish and Wildlife helped in the effort to control the blaze.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe also sent its fire train to help with portions of the fire that ran along train tracks.

Fish and Wildlife crews remain on the scene Tuesday morning checking for flare-ups.