Here's what we know | Fire in Benton City destroys 5 buildings Wednesday

BENTON CITY, Wash. -- Fire officials said a fire in Benton City spread to be around 20 acres of property and destroyed at least 5 buildings.

While the cause is still under investigation, officials said it may have started due to a spark from a piece of machinery in a nearby field.

The fire was able to spread quickly to several trees and a nearby abandoned home.

Fire crews responded to the call for help just after 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The fire was in the area of north Harrison Loop and north River Road.

Smoke filled the air, and plumes of smoke could be seen from Pasco.

Fire officials mentioned that the wind played a big factor in putting the fire out. The wind allowed the fire to spread from the grass to nearby trees and then an abandoned property where it destroyed at least five structures including a house, two sheds and a gazebo.

A vehicle parked in a shed or outbuilding was also destroyed.

On top of the buildings burning and collapsing, firefighters had to endure dangerous situations like trees toppling and falling from heat and fire damage.

More than 50 firefighters from various regional agencies were at the scene battling the blaze. Some of the agencies included Richland Fire & Rescue, Benton County Fire District 2 and Franklin County Fire District.

Benton County Fire District 2 Fire Chief Dennis Bates said "So the big thing here is having that green belt of protection. It buys us time, it buys the owners time. It would've helped a lot here, unfortunately with the fuels we had and the wind, it just pushed it into other fuels and arbor vitae and the fences. The vacant home, it was great there was nobody in it, however the lack of upkeep. The dust on top of the roof is what ignited and basically auto-exposed to the residential building."

Fire crews stayed at the scene until early Wednesday morning to monitor hotspots.

The cost of the destruction is unknown.

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