In brief: Wildfire along Lake Chelan moves closer to communities

LUCERNE, Wash. – A wildfire burning along the west shore of Lake Chelan has grown to about 43 square miles and is moving towards the communities of Holden Village and Stehekin.

Firefighters said Friday they were building secure lines to protect the communities. The fire is only about a mile away from Stehekin and 4 miles from Holden Village.

Fire spokesman Wayne Patterson said the tourist destination of Stehekin remains open for business and is attracting big crowds who want to see the wildfire.

The fire started July 29 from lightning in remote timber and grass. Hot, dry weather has encouraged its growth. The blaze has shut down a section of the Pacific Crest Trail and several campgrounds. It has sent smoke wafting over the popular recreation area in Central Washington.

Hong Kong-based company buys Seattle skyscraper

SEATTLE – The Pacific Northwest’s tallest building, the Columbia Tower, has been sold to a Hong Kong investment company for $711 million.

The Seattle Times reported Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners completed its purchase of the 76-story building Friday. It’s one of the biggest real estate transactions in the region’s history.

Real estate market experts could only remember two larger deals in Seattle, but both were for collections of buildings, including a $1.15 billion Amazon.com purchase of 11 buildings in South Lake Union.

Seattle’s tallest skyscraper has gone through several owners since it was built by developer Martin Selig in 1985.

Governor to lead state group on trade mission to Asia

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday that he’s leaving at the end of the month for a nine-day trade mission to South Korea and Japan.

Inslee will be joined by directors of the state Agriculture and Commerce departments, as well as 60 leaders from the business, education, economic development and local government communities.

The delegation will focus on trade and investment in the agriculture, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.

Washington exported $7.4 billion in goods last year to Japan, making Japan the state’s third-largest export market. South Korea is the sixth-largest export market, at $2.8 billion.

Inslee will leave Aug. 28, heading first to Seoul, where he will meet with government officials and business leaders, and address a technology conference.

He will then travel to Kobe, Japan. In addition to meetings with leaders, Inslee will visit the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution to learn how Washington can better be prepared for a major earthquake.