LUCERNE, Wash. — A lightning-caused fire in Central Washington has burned more than 9 square miles near Lake Chelan, growing thousands of acres between Saturday and today.
Several hundred people were evacuated from a Lutheran retreat center and the Holden Mine Remediation Center on Saturday. Officials say Holden Village is not threatened by the fire, but the blaze threatens the only evacuation route.
The Wolverine Fire, which started Wednesday, is burning in timber about 3 miles northwest of Lucerne, Washington.
Fire officials say the blaze, which has grown rapidly over the weekend, has shut down parts of the Pacific Crest Trail and a number of campgrounds in the area.
Smoke and ash affected people on vacation near the popular lake and pilots have been told to avoid the area. Lightning started several other small fires in the area Saturday.
Fire officials say a wildfire in Mason County that has burned 13 structures, including five homes, is now 50 percent contained. The Washington Department of Natural Resources say crews on the Deckerville Road Fire near Matlock are in mop up mode.
Meanwhile, a couple of small brush fires in Pierce County briefly caused evacuations in the area Saturday when structures were threatened. Those fires are now nearing containment.
Oregon blaze forces evacuations
In southwest Oregon, a fire burning in forestland has spread to more than 23 square miles, according to more accurate mapping of the blaze.
About 35 families have been evacuated from their homes and another 100 families have been told to prepare to leave.
Although the fire was still growing Sunday, fire team spokesman Dave Wells says they were not expecting explosive growth. Wells says the day is overcast and misty rain has been falling.
No structures have been lost in the fire and no injuries have been reported.
The Stouts Creek Fire about 16 miles east of Canyonville in Douglas County doubled in size from Friday to today.
Wells says a total of 264 structures are threatened but only about half are homes.
Crews battle stubborn Lewiston Orchards blaze
A Lewiston Orchards grass fire that appeared to be out Saturday afternoon reignited about an hour later, destroying a trailer and an outbuilding, the Lewiston Tribune reported.
The second flare-up of flames was reported about 4:15 p.m. after embers got under the camp trailer parked in the area where the fire first sparked, near the intersection of Richardson Avenue and Barr Road. The trailer was soon fully engulfed, and the fire spread to a 30-foot-by-30-foot outbuilding. The total loss of both was valued at about $5,000.
The fire was first reported about 1:10 p.m. Saturday along Barr Road. According to eyewitness accounts, a trailer disconnected from the pickup truck pulling it, skipped along the pavement and created sparks that caused the fire.
The flames spread to grass and quickly grew to about 10 acres as a hot sun beat above, temperatures already above 100 degrees. Several structures and outbuildings were initially threatened, according to Greg Fry, acting battalion chief for the Lewiston Fire Department. They were not damaged.
