Stubborn brush fire flares up again

YAKIMA -- A flare-up early this afternoon sent East Valley firefighters back to the scene of an early-morning 400-acre brush fire on Thorp Road, south of Union Gap, that threatened three homes.

The cause of the fire, in the 3200 block of Thorp Road, remains under investigation.

Ultimately, no homes were damaged as firefighters from many Upper and Lower Valley departments assisted East Valley.

East Valley fire Lt. Trevor Lenseigne said the flames ignited landscaping shrubs near one of the homes.

Lenseigne said the alarm was turned in at 1:55 a.m. when a homeowner awoke to the smell of smoke.

Firefighters controlled the fire about 6:30 a.m. and the last fire engine left the scene about 11 a.m., Lenseigne said.

-- David Lester