Devil’s Elbow Complex fire threatens homes on Colville Reservation

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. – Officials fighting a new wildfire complex on the Colville Reservation in northeast Washington issued an urgent evacuation notice Tuesday for about 20 homes.

The Devil’s Elbow Complex of three wildfires was detected Sunday on the Colville Reservation. Officials say it was likely ignited Saturday by lightning. It has burned across about 2,000 acres.

Fire spokeswoman Kathy Moses said six families have evacuated to a community center in Keller. A stretch of state Highway 21 in the area was closed Tuesday.

Elsewhere, fire managers prepared for extreme fire conditions as hot, dry weather kept several wildfires burning in Washington.

The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning Tuesday, advising that strong winds and low relative humidity could create hazardous conditions in parts of Central and Eastern Washington.

Weather conditions allowed two fires in Central Washington to grow, including one blaze that was pushing closer to Highway 97 between Blewett Pass and Leavenworth.

Residents of about 15 homes near Highway 97 have been told to evacuate, and dozens more have been advised to be ready to leave, said Nick Mickel, a spokesman for Chiwaukum Complex fire burning near Leavenworth.

“There’s some concern of it burning up to and over Highway 97,” Mickel said of the 65-acre Hansel fire.

A lightning-sparked wildfire burning about 10 miles north of Ellensburg was about 10 percent contained Tuesday. That Snag Canyon fire has destroyed more than a dozen structures, including six homes or cabins, and it threatens dozens of other homes.

Deputies were escorting residents into the area on a case-by-case basis, but the most serious evacuation notice for about 80 homes was still in effect Tuesday, said Jill Beedle, a spokeswoman for the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center.

The state’s largest fire, burning in north-central Washington, was about 90 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon.