Vegetation Fire in Zintel Canyon brought 40 Firefighters

Scott Matthews was just doing his job Thursday afternoon, looking up to give a rain gutter estimate, when he noticed black smoke behind homes along  Zintel Canyon near W. 19th Ave. and S. Buntin St. in Kennewick. He called 911 then pulled out neighbors' garden hoses to wet down an elderly woman's fence and new shed, fighting to protect the corner of her structure.

Forty firefighters and fifteen trucks from Mutual Aid responded to the vegetation fire shortly after. Fire Battalion Chief Mikal Barnett said the natural cover fire threatened structures and about three acres in the canyon, which they successfully kept away from homes. He added, "We've got some big time fuel jackpots such as large trees and fences in the area." Firefighters placed a one hundred percent line around the area as crews mopped it up, still assessing the damage. Chief Mikal Barnett forecasted the City of Kennewick would block off  trails during the ongoing operations.

Someone commented on the quick response to this blaze and asked what the department learned from the Bofer Canyon Fires a couple weeks ago. The Battalion Chief said, "You learn a lot from every fire."