Wildfire continues to burn near Nespelem on Sunday

Fire crews spent the weekend digging lines around a 5,000-plus acre fire near Nespelem on the Colville Indian Reservation.

The Greenhouse fire had grown as of Sunday morning to a little more than 5,100 acres, with 30% containment by crews battling the blaze that is believed to have began Thursday afternoon, according to a news release by the Northwest Incident Management Team. The blaze has prompted Level 2 evacuations, meaning residents nearby should be ready to leave if conditions worsen.

A total of 271 people are battling the fire, which burned on its western edge into a canyon Saturday afternoon. The fire is threatening 14 homes in the area, as temperatures are forecast to rise during the beginning of the week.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Columbia River Road is closed from Omak to its juncture with Schoolhouse Loop Road at the Colville Indian Agency in Nespelem.

Fire officials urge those driving in the area to use caution.