Benton County Fire Protection District No 2

08/20/2026

🚨 New Surplus Items Up for Auction! 🚨

Benton County Fire District #2 has added new items to our current public surplus auction! If you’ve been looking for a useful piece of equipment, gear, or just something you didn’t know you needed, now’s the time to take a look. 👀

🛒 See what’s available and find the auction link on our Surplus page:

👉 https://www.benton2.org/surplus-property

⏰ The auction is active now and ends in 12 days, so don’t wait until the last minute to check it out!

Good luck, and happy bidding! 🔨

08/04/2026

As of today, Aug. 1, 2026, the entire state of Washington is under a burn ban.

This is not an effort to curtail your rights.
This is not an attempt to unalive the joy that comes from roasting marshmallows.

It is very simply an effort to preserve lives and property in the midst of a drought > dry vegetation > winds acting like a toddler after three juice boxes.

What should you do?
1. Don't burn stuff. Sometimes we just have to state the obvious.
2. Sign up for Code Red for Benton or Franklin County. Link in the comments.
3. Assume that you're under a Level 1 "Get Ready" evacuation advisory, ESPECIALLY if you live within a half mile of wildland area. That means monitor local news and emergency alerts, pack what you would need for at least several hours (medication, important documents), and check on your neighbors to find out if they are home and would need assistance in the event of an evacuation. Identify at least two ways out of your neighborhood.
4. If there is a fire, please stay out of the way. You are not a moth. You can resist the urge to jump in your car and drive toward the flames. Lookie-loo traffic makes it more dangerous for evacuees, more dangerous for police and deputies attempting to get to homes to evacuate residents, and more dangerous for firefighters trying to maneuver personnel and equipment to the fire and fill up and deliver water tankers.

Please also avoid activities that could create a spark. This includes things like target shooting, discharging fireworks, off-roading, dragging chains, burning yard debris/weeds, and even mowing down a dry field. That ship has sailed at this point. Hit a rock and 💥 we're off to the races. And not in a good way.

Thank you for taking this seriously.

IO111

08/01/2026

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08/01/2026

Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
1256 PM PDT Fri Jul 31, 2026

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES OR691, OR692, OR693, OR694, OR695, OR696, OR700, WA690, WA691, WA692, AND WA693.

A strong cold front will pass through the Pacific and Inland Northwest on Saturday. Very warm, dry, and windy conditions will result, leading to extreme fire weather concerns and the potential for rapid fire spread for any new or ongoing fires.

TIMING... From 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday.

WINDS... West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY... As low as 15 percent.

IMPACTS... This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION as extreme Fire Weather concerns will be present. Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Wind Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
142 PM PDT Fri Jul 31, 2026

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT SATURDAY.

WHAT... West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.

WHERE... Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington, North Central Oregon, Yakima Valley, and Simcoe Highlands.

WHEN... From 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday.

IMPACTS... Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=WAZ028&warncounty=WAC005&firewxzone=WAZ691&local_place1=Benton%20City%20WA&product1=Red+Flag+Warning&lat=46.2672&lon=-119.4738

07/01/2026

👉Fireworks in Unincorporated Benton County-Restrictions Notice & Reminder

As of 12:00 p.m. on June 28th, 2026, fireworks may be sold in un-incorporated Benton County.

The discharge of fireworks is limited to July 3rd & July 4th.

Per Benton County Fireworks Code BCC 7.30, please click below for specific time periods in which legal fireworks may be issued, fired, or discharged.

View full details and notice: tinyurl.com/4bb8tzxn

06/30/2026

🎆 Planning to celebrate with fireworks this Fourth of July? Know the rules before you light the fuse.

Fireworks regulations vary throughout Benton County, and not every city allows fireworks. Visit our Fireworks Information page for local regulations, discharge dates and times, fire danger information, safety tips, and helpful resources.

🔗 https://www.benton2.org/fireworks

Let's work together to keep our community safe this Independence Day. 🇺🇸🚒

06/27/2026

MEDIA RELEASE *update*
“WAGON WHEEL FIRE"

PREPARED BY: Assistant Fire Chief – Todd Dormaier

UPDATE: 6-26-2026 (5pm)

CONTAINMENT: 100%

START DATE: 6/23/2026

AREA OF FIRE: Benton County, West of SR225, North of Acord Rd
CAUSE: Under Investigation

ALL evacuation levels for the Wagon Fire have been rescinded as of Thursday, 6-25-2026 at 1500 hrs (3pm). Notifications were made via BCES, Code Red, and via other technological processes to the residences and individuals immediately affected in the immediate fire perimeter and fire area.

The fire has been marked as 100% contained. State mobilization crews have been released and the fire has been transferred back to Benton County Fire District #2. BCFD #2 will continue to monitor the area throughout the week.

https://www.benton2.org/emergency-fire-notification-06-23-26

06/26/2026

MEDIA RELEASE “WAGON FIRE”

PREPARED BY: Assistant Fire Chief – Todd Dormaier

INCIDENT COMMANDER(s): Captain Darrin Pettis / Lt. Steve McGhan

ESTIMATED ACREAGE: 326 (updated 6/24/26)

CONTAINMENT: 80%

START DATE: 6/23/2026

AREA OF FIRE: Benton County, West of SR225, North of Acord Rd

CAUSE: Under Investigation

STRUCTURES THREATENED: ( 48 ) Primary Structures, ( 106 ) Outbuildings

STRUCTURES DAMAGED: ( 0 ) Primary Structures, ( 8 ) Outbuildings
INJURIES: ( 0 ) Firefighter, (1) Civilian | Life Threatening (treated/transported)

CLOSURES & EVACUATION LEVELS: Current Level 2 evacuations are still in place for the immediate fire area. An evacuation Level 2, “SET”, has been kept in place due to an atmospheric low-pressure event moving into the area Wednesday afternoon and into the evening hours.

OVERVIEW: The Wagon Fire was fueled by extremely dry fuels, wind, and limited access, in and out of drylands, residential areas, and throughout areas considered to be wildland urban interface. Firefighters from: Benton County Fire District #1, Benton County Fire District #4, Benton County Fire District #5, West Benton Fire Rescue, Richland Fire Department, Pasco Fire Department, Hanford Fire Department, Franklin County Fire District #3, Franklin County Fire District #4, Franklin County Fire District #5, Walla Walla County Fire District #4, Walla Walla County Fire District #8, Walla Walla Fire Department, College Place Fire Department, and WADNR (Washington State Department of Natural Resources) all assisted with initial attack.

Aviation resources were requested via HB1498 at 1216 hrs (12:16p); in total, ( 2 ) rotors, ( 2 ) Single Engine Air Tankers, and ( 1 ) Air Attack was requested. An additional ( 1 ) rotor was requested and dispatched once Air Attack arrived on scene.

Prior to the region being exhausted of available units, a Washington State Mobilization request was made sooner than normally requested. This request was approved by the State Fire Marshal Office via the WSP at 1500hrs (3p) 6/23/2026. State resources are planned to be on scene through Thursday with local resources assisting during daytime operations and covering nighttime operations. Local resources are also continuing to respond to other calls within the area and all initial attack calls throughout the District.

RESOURCES ( approximately 160 personnel at the peak of suppression efforts ):
( 141 ) Total Personnel (at the peak of the incident): ( 11 ) Overhead Personnel

Apparatuses:
( 2 ) Dozers
( 10 ) Structural Firefighting Apparatuses
( 25 ) Wildland Firefighting Apparatuses
( 8 ) Water Tenders
( 4 ) Medic Units: ( 3 ) Ambulances, ( 1 ) Medical Overhead
( 1 ) Rehab

Aviation Assets, (at the peak of the incident):
( 1 ) Air Attack
( 2 ) Single Engine Air Tankers
( 3 ) Rotors: ( 2 ) Type 1, ( 1 ) Type 2

https://www.benton2.org/emergency-fire-notification-06-23-26

06/23/2026