BIGGS JUNCTION, Ore. (KOIN) — A fire that started in an abandoned motel in Biggs Junction Wednesday afternoon burned a home and closed portions of I-84, officials said.
The fire started around 2 p.m. and quickly burned 2.5 miles east and headed towards Rufus, Sherman County Emergency officials said. There was no immediate danger to the Rufus area Wednesday evening.
Two homes in the area were evacuated, and one of them was lost in the fire. Other buildings between Biggs Junction and Rufus were impacted by the blaze.
Smoke from the fire was visible for miles. U.S. Highway 30 along the Columbia was temporarily closed.
“When I seen that coming through there I thought it’s going to come right up that draw and take us all out,” John Raczykowski said. “But like I say, the fire department saved everything here.”
Firefighters from Arlington, North and South Sherman, Klickitat County, Wasco County and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue were on the scene.
Denise Bower, whose husband helped water down her parent’s yard to keep it from burning, watched from the roof as the fire inched in her direction.
“It got pretty close to the house and then it got safe again,” Bower said. “Now the embers from this is getting the little side hills going up to the house going again.”
By Wednesday night the blaze was fully contained, and crews were monitoring the area for flare-ups. Some of the 50 firefighters had been sent home, but some stayed overnight to make sure the wind didn’t start the fire up again.
Investigators have determined the initial apartment fire was started unintentionally, possibly by a cigarette.The Associated Press contributed to this report