Wildfire shuts down SR 240 near Hanford

A large natural cover fire closed down roadways around the Hanford Nuclear Reservation Thursday afternoon.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, SR-24 is closed at milepost 30 at the intersection with SR-241, 30 miles east of Yakima, to the Vernita Bridge near the intersection with SR-243.

The road is also closed at SR-240 at milepost 20 just north of Richland.

Washington State Patrol, Hanford Fire, and WSDOT personnel are on the scene.

At this time, there is no estimate on the size of the fire, or any estimated time for when it might be contained and the roads reopened.

(Photo: KEPR Action News)