Investigators rule out natural causes for Sleepy Hollow Fire

Investigators looking into the Sleepy Hollow Fire near Wenatchee have ruled out natural causes, such as lightning, but they’re still looking into whether the fire was set on purpose or by accident, authorities said at Wednesday news briefing. The blaze, which began Sunday and has scorched more than 4 square miles, along with 29 homes, has been the worst so far this season as the state struggles with a severe drought. Read: Fire scorches Wenatchee neighborhood

Just days after that wildfire tore through homes, a new blaze in the hot, dry region burned some buildings and forced about two dozen residents to flee. That fire, near the city of Quincy, and labeled the Monument Hill Fire, has charred more than 3 square miles of dry sagebrush and grass and destroyed five abandoned buildings or outbuildings, the Grant County sheriff’s office said. No homes were lost and no injuries were reported. Residents were allowed to return to their homes later on Wednesday morning. Winds whipped the flames through farmland, vineyards and some steep terrain starting late Tuesday. It’s not clear what ignited it. State firefighting resources helped partially contain the blaze northeast of Quincy. Read: Wildfire forces evacuations near Quincy

Another wildfire in central Washington burned nearly 51/2 square miles of sagebrush and grass south of the small town of Mansfield, about 40 miles northeast of Wenatchee. That fire was halfway contained by Tuesday night and no longer threatened homes. ——— Crews also are battling blazes in California and Nevada. Here’s a look at hotspots around the West: ——— CALIFORNIA Firefighters made progress against wildfires burning throughout California, but weather was becoming a potential problem as a heat wave built in some regions and the threat of thunderstorms, gusty winds and lightning persisted elsewhere. A 320-acre blaze that erupted outside the Santa Barbara County city of Lompoc on Monday and forced 1,200 people to flee was three-quarters contained and evacuations were lifted, fire Capt. Dave Zaniboni said. The fire broke out behind the Spanish colonial-era La Purisima Mission, but the structures in what is now a state historic park escaped damage. The cause of the fire was under investigation. In the inland region east of Los Angeles, a 49-square-mile wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest was more than halfway contained. Firefighters worked on hotspots, and some crews were sent to wilderness areas for three- or four-day stints to reduce travel time to and from fire lines. ——— NEVADA Crews battled a lightning-caused wildfire that chewed through 7 square miles in northern Nevada. A fire was burning sage and grass on private land north of Interstate 80, about halfway between Battle Mountain and Elko, the Nevada Division of Forestry said Tuesday. There were no immediate threats to buildings or people.