Homes evacuated in Washington wildfire

PATEROS, Wash. – Approximately a dozen houses and cabins remained under an evacuation order Friday because of a fast-moving wildfire in north-central Washington.

The Squaw Creek fire, about eight miles northwest of Pateros, was estimated at about 2,000 acres Friday afternoon, said Robin DeMario, spokeswoman for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. The fire started late Thursday afternoon. It was believed to have been caused by a person, but the cause remained under investigation.

Firefighters had the blaze 60 percent contained Friday after bulldozers built lines on the east flank, DeMario said. Firefighters also were able to use area orchards as a green zone to keep flames at bay.

More than 200 firefighters were assigned to the fire, she said.

One structure was destroyed, apparently an unoccupied residence of some kind, said Okanogan County Emergency Manager Scott Miller. No injuries had been reported.

The fire, burning on mountainous terrain, grass, brush, and in orchards, started on private land and moved toward national forest land, DeMario said.

It had burned down into the Squaw Creek Drainage and was moving in a northerly direction toward Hunter Mountain on Friday.