Brush fire closes roads, forces evacuation in Central Wash.
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WENATCHEE, Wash. -- Burning brush in Central Washington quickly spread in Thursday's dry conditions, scorching more than 200 acres and putting residents at risk.
The fire in the Navarre-Coulee area of the Wenatchee-Okanogan Forest grew quickly through the afternoon, closing roads and forcing at leas one evacuation.
"You can see this is already dried out and down below here there's a mat of dead material and that's last year's grass," said Robin Demario US Forest Service.
Chelan firefighters are working with the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources to control the blaze. As the fire spread, three DNR helicopters pulled water from the Columbia River and dumped it onto the fire.
Aside from the sweltering temperatures and rough terrain, the main concern is keeping nearby residents safe.
"The people who live up there, assuring them that their house is in the good shape and everything else," said Janet Flanagan of the Entiat Ranger District.
As of Thursday night, only one home had been evacuated, but a dozen others were put on standby to leave at a moment's notice. Twenty other residents have been warned that a fire is in the area.
The temperature is expected to drop 20 to 30 degrees overnight, and as the humidity rises the fire will slow.
Fire crews will reassess the situation early Friday morning, but they hope to have the fire under control by the time the sun comes up.
There's no word on how the fire started.
The fire in the Navarre-Coulee area of the Wenatchee-Okanogan Forest grew quickly through the afternoon, closing roads and forcing at leas one evacuation.
"You can see this is already dried out and down below here there's a mat of dead material and that's last year's grass," said Robin Demario US Forest Service.
Chelan firefighters are working with the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources to control the blaze. As the fire spread, three DNR helicopters pulled water from the Columbia River and dumped it onto the fire.
Aside from the sweltering temperatures and rough terrain, the main concern is keeping nearby residents safe.
"The people who live up there, assuring them that their house is in the good shape and everything else," said Janet Flanagan of the Entiat Ranger District.
As of Thursday night, only one home had been evacuated, but a dozen others were put on standby to leave at a moment's notice. Twenty other residents have been warned that a fire is in the area.
The temperature is expected to drop 20 to 30 degrees overnight, and as the humidity rises the fire will slow.
Fire crews will reassess the situation early Friday morning, but they hope to have the fire under control by the time the sun comes up.
There's no word on how the fire started.
