154 homes near Cle Elum evacuated as fire nears

CLE ELUM, Wash. – A fire that started from lightning strikes in Washington has prompted the evacuation of 154 homes.

KOMO-TV reported that the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office escalated evacuations to “go now” in Middle Fork Teanaway near Cle Elum. As of Thursday morning, the fire had grown to 12 square miles.

Officials said of the 154 homes evacuated, half were primary homes and the other half were cabins and vacation homes.

Firefighters said the fire almost doubled in size on Wednesday, fueled by high winds, heat and plenty of dry fuel.