Wind fans flames near Mount Adams

TROUT LAKE, Wash. – Steady breezes and warm temperatures helped push a wildfire in south-central Washington into more timber Tuesday, as firefighters elsewhere in the state gained ground on blazes that have been burning for days.

Improved mapping showed the Cold Springs fire near Mount Adams has burned about 11 square miles, or 7,160 acres, in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and on the Yakama Indian Reservation. The fire about 7 miles northeast of Trout Lake was 5 percent contained Tuesday evening, fire information officer Kim Smolt said.

First reported late Saturday, the fire was believed to have been started by lightning several days earlier.

Winds were pushing the fire to the east into thick timber stands on the Yakama reservation. No homes were threatened.

Authorities closed the Cold Springs trailhead, or south trail, which is a primary access point for climbers aiming to ascend the 12,276-foot peak.

At the Badger Mountain fire complex north of Wenatchee, officials lowered the Level 3 evacuation order to Level 2, meaning residents of about 160 homes could return. The two fires there have burned 23 square miles, or 15,023 acres, but the Badger Mountain fire was 75 percent contained Tuesday, spokesman Dave Cox said. Full containment was expected Sunday, he said.

Crews fully contained the Browns Canyon fire on Monday evening.

Twelve miles east of Tonasket in far north-central Washington, the Cayuse fire was 100 percent contained Tuesday at 1,778 acres. The Willow Lakes fire, on about 5,000 acres southeast of Soap Lake, and several smaller fires near Inchelium also were fully contained.