A fast-moving wildfire forced authorities to issue an immediate Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order for the entire city of Vantage, Washington, on Wednesday evening, July 8, 2026.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office identified the active blaze as the Ryegrass Coulee Fire at 6:15 p.
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m.
Deputies went door-to-door to notify residents and facilitate emergency evacuations.
Emergency crews closed major transportation routes, including Vantage Highway at Parke Creek Road, as the fire spread rapidly near the community.
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Interstate 90 Shut Down
Interstate 90 remains closed in both directions due to severe smoke and poor visibility caused by the ongoing Ryegrass Coulee Fire, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Eastbound traffic is halted at milepost 115 near Kittitas, while westbound lanes are blocked at milepost 138, just east of the Vantage Bridge near the State Route 26 exit.
The Washington State Department of Transportation stated that there is currently no estimated time for the highway to reopen to traffic.
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Local deputies maintain continuous contact with incident command as they await further updates regarding containment efforts, according to the sheriff's office.
