Wildfires Char 10,000 Acres
Two wildfires were raging out of control Sunday night on the Colville Indian Reservation in north-central Washington.
The fires combined to burn about 10,000 acres but were not threatening any structures, said Rick Acosta, spokesman for the firefighters.
He said 200 firefighters, aided by retardant bombers and bulldozers, were fighting the fires, which started along state Highway 155 several miles east of Omak.
The fires started Saturday and chewed through brush and timber on the reservation.
On Saturday, firefighters quickly squelched a fire that sparked a couple of miles east of Omak. Then another sprang up three miles east of the town, and another almost five miles further east on the highway.
The northern parts of the two fires have grown together. Along the highway, they’re separated by about four miles, firefighters said.
The causes of the fires were still under investigation Sunday.
At least 150 people were evacuated from their homes Saturday night because of the fires, but were allowed to return later. One unoccupied trailer home was destroyed.
, DataTimes