Fire officials expect to have a fire burning in Klickitat County near Wishram contained by this afternoon or Friday.
Fire management spokesman Michael Krueger said Wednesday evening the Milepost 90 fire had grownto 14,156 acres, or about 22 square miles.
Despite a breach over control lines in the northeast section of the fire, firefighters had it 60 percent contained by the end of the day Wednesday, he said.
Krueger said firefighters have made ample progress and, barring any changes, expected to have it handled within a day or two.
The fire started late Tuesday afternoon, and the cause is under investigation, according to Washington State Patrol Fire Protection Bureau. There was no lightning in the area at that time.
On Wednesday, winds pushed the fire east, upriver, but the footprint of the fire remained largely unchanged, save for a small breach in the northeast.
The fire is burning primarily in fast-burning grasses, with some sagebrush, according to fire officials. No damaged structures or injuries have been reported.
Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Bill Slosson said the fire was threatening homes, crops, power infrastructure, livestock and water sources.
By Wednesday morning, the fire had grown to 11,000 acres before stalling Wednesday morning.
The fire led to evacuation notices for some areas nearby, but those notices have since been downgraded to “get set” (level 2) or “get ready” (level 1) advisements.
An estimated 75 homes were affected by the earlier evacuation notices.
Emergency managers have been posting updates on the evacuations on the Klickitat County 911 Dispatch/Emergency Management Facebook page.
A Red Cross Shelter has been opened at Goldendale High School, with a hotline at 1-888-680-1455.
State Highway 14 is closed between Dallesport and Maryhill. Officials had no estimate for when the highway will reopen. Drivers were advised to use alternate routes.
Statewide fire assistance was mobilized to support local firefighters working to contain the fire, as flames have already scorched vegetation on private, Forest Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands.
About 135 people were fighting the fire as of Wednesday evening.
