Winds fanning wildfire near Wenatchee

WENATCHEE, Wash. — A wildfire about 10 miles north of Wenatchee continued to burn through dry grass Monday morning with the forecast of gusty winds. A spokesman with the Washington Incident Management Team, Mark Grassel, said firefighters are concerned about the Weather Service’s Red Flag Warning for winds of 15 TO 20 mph and gusts to 45. More than 300 firefighters are at the scene of the Swakane Canyon fire that was reported Saturday and has burned nearly nine square miles on land owned by the Forest Service, state Department of Natural Resources and private individuals. The fire has destroyed a hay barn. About 18 people evacuated Saturday night. Grassel says firefighters are protecting 70 homes and some orchards along Highway 97A.