Saturday brush fire in Wash. destroys 2 buildings

WENATCHEE — A Saturday morning brush fire burning south of Wenatchee has destroyed a mobile home and another structure.

The fire burning on about 1.5 square miles at Colockum Pass has forced evacuation of more than 40 homes and cabins in the area, said fire spokeswoman Kay McKellar.

Two helicopters and an airplane are dropping water and fire retardant on the Wenatchee blaze. About 100 firefighters from Chelan and Douglas counties as well as the Washington Department of Natural Resources are working on the fire. No injuries have been reported.

High temperatures and 30 mph winds are making the effort to fight this fire and protecting homes and cabins in the area more difficult, said Chelan County Fire Chief Bill Neckels.

Meanwhile, nearly 1,200 fighters are battling a wildfire that has grown to about 14 square miles near Goldendale. The fire along the top of Satus Pass is threatening about 180 homes, but none have been damaged.

The Klickitat County sheriff’s office has issued evacuation notices for the homes.

Mark Grassel of the interagency fire management team says the fire is only 3 percent contained and most of Highway 97 between Goldendale and Toppenish remains closed. The fire grew on Friday to the south and the east.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the fire danger in much of Eastern Washington, including Goldendale, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Moses Lake.