Vance Creek Railroad Bridge Fire Sparks Canyon Blaze Mason County

The Vance Creek Bridge in Mason County, Washington, the second-highest railroad arch bridge in the U.S., caught fire on July 31, causing embers to ignite a secondary fire in the canyon below. Firefighters from multiple agencies battled the blaze and contained both fires by 9 p.m. that evening. Separately, the Yuma City Council is considering a code change that would allow staff to enter private property with a court-approved administrative warrant when there is a perceived threat to human life or property. While the proposal aims to prevent tragedies and protect residents from unsafe conditions, some citizens argue it undermines constitutional protections related to privacy, property rights, and due process. Traditionally, officials require probable cause of criminal activity for entry without consent, whereas administrative warrants have a lower threshold. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between public safety measures and civil liberties.