SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A handful of new wildfires fanned by strong winds have burned two homes in northeast Washington and threatened dozens but officials say no injuries were reported.
In Stevens County north of Spokane, the Slide Creek fire near Arden has burned across 112 square miles of timber, brush and grass. Undersheriff Lavonne Webb and Arden Fire Chief Joe Paccerelli tell KREM-TV that two homes burned. By late Thursday night, winds were dropping and Washington Department of Natural Resources spokesman Albert Kassel said the fire had burned around most of the 65 homes and outbuildings within its perimeter.
In northeast Washington’s Ferry County, the Fish Hatchery Road fire still threatens about 50 homes.
Elsewhere, a fast-moving fire in the Columbia River Gorge has burned across 3 square miles and threatened homes west of Lyle. Kassel says one outbuilding has burned there.
East of Spokane, KHQ-TV reports another large wildfire is burning outside of Davenport.
