The recent wildfire in Kittitas County is under investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is calling for community assistance to unravel the human origins of the Red Bridge Road fire near Cle Elum. Having engulfed 53 acres and damaged a pair of structures, the blaze set off evacuations and has become a matter of public concern.
According to a press release by the DNR, they first got wind of the fire on June 9th around 3:57 p.m. The fire simmered through the dry landscape, leaving in its wake an urgent need for answers about its cause. Several locals noted a man close to the site pre-fire, who was taking photos of a debris pile—sparking the investigators' interest in what might have been a clue or a coincidence.
Adding to the intrigue, reports of a red pickup truck positioned near the initial flicker of flames, but soon after, the truck and the individual associated with it disappeared as smoke spiraled into the sky. The DNR is seeking any additional pre-incident sightings of the truck or other potentially related observations. As families return to a landscape charred, the hunt for clarity soldiers on.
The DNR has provided a hotline and urges anyone with potentially pivotal information about the Red Bridge Road fire to get in touch.
