Wildfire threatens homes near Columbia

BRIDGEPORT, Wash. – An 8,000-acre wildfire burning along the Columbia River near this north-central Washington town destroyed two outbuildings and was threatening several homes on Sunday, fire officials said.

The wind-driven blaze was about 25 percent contained Sunday evening, said Dan Johnson, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol’s fire protection bureau.

No evacuations had been ordered. Johnson said the fire was about a half a mile away from the threatened homes, which he described as mostly primary residences.

“They have a pretty good line on the fire,” Johnson said. “They feel pretty confident it will hold on the east end there.”

Officials expect to have the fire fully contained by Wednesday, Johnson said.

The fire started about 4 p.m. Saturday and was believed to have been caused by a downed power line, said Melissa Gannie, a fire protection bureau spokeswoman.

Officials initially estimated the fire was about 1,000 acres. Johnson said that estimate was low because the blaze was burning in steep terrain in a narrow strip along the river.

“It’s burned probably 10 miles from where it started, all along the hillside,” Johnson said.

Stiff winds made for difficult firefighting conditions during the day, but they had calmed by evening, Johnson said.

State fire assistance was mobilized to help local firefighters. Strike teams were deployed from Grant, Chelan, Snohomish, Stevens, Clark, Benton and Yakima counties.

In all about 100 firefighters were battling the blaze, Gannie said.