A quiet evening of camping at Sun Lakes abruptly shifted into evacuation mode Sunday when a brush fire reignited near Coulee City, pushing smoke across the popular park and triggering emergency closures. The fast-moving blaze tore through high-desert brush and darkened the sky over Park Lake, scattering families and RVs while fire crews surged in. Authorities said most of the fire was knocked down within a couple of hours, with no immediate reports of injuries or destroyed structures.
Blaze Reignited Near Gerrard Road
The Gerrard Road fire flared back up at about 6 p.m. Sunday and burned roughly 500 acres before crews contained the bulk of the blaze in about two hours, according to NewsRadio 560 KPQ. Firefighters were called back to the scene Monday morning to check for hotspots and continue mop-up, the station reported. NewsRadio 560 KPQ also noted that officials reported no injuries and no damaged structures.
Sun Lakes Campgrounds
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park spans more than 4,000 acres of channeled scablands and features multiple developed campgrounds and group sites, according to Washington State Parks. Set between Soap Lake and Coulee City, the park is a regular draw for RVers and tent campers throughout the summer.
Evacuations and Road Closures
Authorities issued a Level 3 "leave immediately" evacuation order for the Sun Lakes camping area as the fire flared and heavy smoke moved in. At the same time, U.S. Highway 2 and State Route 17 near the blaze were temporarily shut down, causing major travel delays west of the SR-17 junction, NewsRadio 560 KPQ reported. The station said U.S. Highway 2 reopened by around 9 p.m. Sunday after crews cleared the corridor. Drivers were urged to steer clear of the area while firefighters wrapped up suppression and patrol work.
Fire Restrictions and Outlook
Federal land managers had already tightened rules on open fires in nearby public lands amid extreme conditions. The National Park Service put total fire restrictions in place at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area on June 20 to cut down on human-caused blazes. According to the National Park Service, only self-contained gas stoves are allowed under the ban. Crews are expected to continue mop-up, patrols and spot-checks around the Gerrard Road burn while agencies watch wind and humidity as the region heads deeper into fire season.
