An enormous fire at a frozen food warehouse in Washington on Sunday prompted evacuations of homes and businesses.

“At this time numerous firefighters, law enforcement, and other authorities are on the scene in Finley, Washington as they are battling a massive three-alarm fire at a cold storage facility warehouse plant where chemicals have been stored. A level 3 evacuation has been ordered within a mile from the site as heavy thick black hazardous smoke from the cold storage facility can be seen for miles,” Rawsalerts wrote.

“A shelter-in-place has also been ordered. The cause of how the fire started is still unknown at this time this is still developing and ongoing.”

“More footage is emerging as evacuations have been ordered earlier and are still in place due to the Lineage Cold Storage fire in Finley, Washington, which is burning out of control, releasing hazardous smoke from the facility warehouse plant the fire is still ongoing at this time,” an update stated.

WATCH:

🚨#UPDATE: More footage is emerging as evacuations have been ordered earlier and are still in place due to the Lineage Cold Storage fire in Finley, Washington, which is burning out of control, releasing hazardous smoke from the facility warehouse plant the fire is still ongoing… pic.twitter.com/f4G70pYE12

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 22, 2024

“According to the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office, the fire has been approved for State Mobilization, granting additional crews and resources to help bring the fire under control. The Washington State Fire Protection Bureau is now also providing oversight for the duration of the mobilization,” KEPR noted.

Officials lifted the evacuation orders but recommended people living in the area shelter-in-place due to heavy smoke containing toxic materials.

🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: LINEAGE COLD STORAGE FIRE RAGES ON IN FINLEY, WASHINGTON

A level 3 evacuation order has been issued for areas within a mile of the facility due to dense, black, hazardous smoke emanating from the cold storage building, visible from miles away.

Additionally, a… pic.twitter.com/5UesGjFATL

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 22, 2024

Tri-City Herald reports:

Residents in part of Finley were told to leave their homes and businesses immediately Sunday afternoon as black smoke billowed over the neighborhood downwind of a fire at Lineage Logistics.

Sunday evening the fire at the 525,000-square-foot frozen food warehouse was expected to burn through the night. The fire was not contained by 9 p.m.

Parts of the building had collapsed on itself.

Washington state fire assistance was authorized to support local firefighters about 6 p.m. at the request of District 1 Fire Chief Lonnie Click.

Early in the afternoon Jenna Kochenauer, spokesperson for Benton Fire District 1, said in a social media video that blowing embers were spreading and starting fires in pallets and natural vegetation nearby.

Several brush fires had started, including some later in the afternoon ignited by whirlwinds of flame and ash that were created by intense rising heat and the wind.

Grass, brush and trees burned and homes were threatened, according to the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

The fire started around 5:15 a.m. Sunday in a freezer at the Lineage Logistics cold storage facility at 224905 E. Bowles Road, east of Kennewick, Kochenauer said.

All workers evacuated when an alarm sounded and sprinklers activated.