Blaze near Wenatchee burns two structures
High temperatures, winds hamper firefighters’ efforts
WENATCHEE – A Saturday morning brush fire burning south of Wenatchee has destroyed a mobile home and another structure.
The fire burning on about 1.5 square miles at Colockum Pass has forced evacuation of more than 40 homes and cabins in the area, fire spokeswoman Kay McKellar said.
Two helicopters and an airplane are dropping water and fire retardant on the Wenatchee blaze. About 100 firefighters from Chelan and Douglas counties as well as the Washington Department of Natural Resources are working on the fire. No injuries have been reported.
High temperatures and 30 mph winds are hampering the effort to fight this fire and protect homes and cabins in the area, Chelan County Fire Chief Bill Neckels said.
Meanwhile, nearly 1,200 fighters are battling a wildfire that has grown to about 14 square miles near Goldendale. The fire along the top of Satus Pass is threatening about 180 homes, but none have been damaged.
The Klickitat County sheriff’s office has issued evacuation notices for the homes.
Mark Grassel of the interagency fire management team said the fire is only 3 percent contained and most of Highway 97 between Goldendale and Toppenish remains closed. The fire grew Friday to the south and the east.
The National Weather Service has issued a red-flag warning for the fire danger in much of Eastern Washington, including Goldendale, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Moses Lake.