Target shooters unintentionally set brush fire in Highland area

COWICHE — A brush fire in an area where two men were target shooting west of Yakima kept firefighters busy for a few hours Tuesday.

Highland Fire Chief Sam Glanzer said the fire along Pioneer Way off Summitview Road near Cowiche was reported about 11 a.m.

About 25 firefighters from Highland, Naches Heights, West Valley, Gleed and Yakima departments responded to the fire. The blaze was contained to less than 15 acres and was not near any structures, but Glanzer said crews had to contend with wind that was pushing the fire up a ravine.

Investigators talked with two men who were target shooting in the area, and determined that a bullet ricocheted into dry brush and ignited the fire, Glanzer said.

“We’ve have had brush fires started by shooting before,” the fire chief said. “It doesn’t happen too often.”