PRESCOTT, WA – State firefighting resources have been mobilized to assist local crews battling the Barstow Road Fire in Walla Walla County, near the town of Prescott. The mobilization was authorized by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste on Sunday night, following a request from Fire Chief Jim Ruffcorn of the North County Fire District.

The Barstow Road Fire began at approximately 5:43 p.m. on Sunday. The fire is currently estimated at 2,000 acres and is continuing to grow. It is burning in brush and grass, threatening crops, rangeland, and land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Level 1 evacuations are in effect. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray has been activated to Level 3, enhanced monitoring, to support coordination efforts. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered three strike teams and air resources to aid in containment. Personnel from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are en route and coordinating remotely.

The Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan allows for the rapid deployment of personnel and equipment from across the state when local resources are overwhelmed. The Fire Protection Bureau oversees the dispatch and ongoing administrative coordination during mobilization events.