GOLDENDALE, Wash. (AP) — Firefighters have gained the upper hand on a blaze near Washington state’s Satus Pass, allowing authorities to lift evacuation orders for many of the roughly 200 threatened homes.
The fire burning 20 miles north of the Columbia River and about 10 miles north of the city of Goldendale was 30 percent contained.
Fire incident spokesman Dale Warriner says the fire has burned through more than 6 square miles.
The blaze has burned 64 buildings. Fire officials have confirmed that nine of those structures are homes, but that number is expected to rise upon further investigation.
Authorities could not give an estimate as to how many people were allowed to return home Saturday night, but said orders were lifted for three-fourths of a 29-square-mile area that initially had been evacuated.
