The Jenny Creek Fire burning north of La Center was 100 percent contained and 40 percent controlled as of Friday morning.
“Cooler weather and continued joint firefighting efforts around the clock have made tremendous gains,” according to Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.
Smoke would still be visible throughout the day, CRESA said, though it should be less than what was seen Thursday.
CRESA announced Friday afternoon that evacuation orders for active zones had been lifted, after being downgraded Thursday night.
“But due to hot, dry conditions, we encourage community members to be cautious, observe burn bans and be ready for wildfires,” the agency said.
The blaze started at 3:38 p.m. Wednesday in the 37000 block of Northeast Jenny Creek Road. A house fire spread to a barn and several other small structures on the same property and surrounding vegetation, prompting fire officials to call for evacuations that reached into the city of La Center.
CRESA said Thursday the fire had blackened 32 acres and destroyed a house, barn and some outbuildings on the property where it originated. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.
On Friday afternoon, Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue Fire Chief John Nohr said his agency had moved off the fire because there was no longer a threat to homes. The Department of Natural Resources is continuing mop-up.
There is no estimated date for when the fire will be 100 percent controlled, said Sharon Steriti, a DNR spokeswoman.
Seventy-five people with DNR were on the fire Friday, including four crews from Larch Corrections Center, Steriti said. The Washington Department of Corrections recently announced the minimum-security prison near Yacolt will close this fall.
DNR will continue to work on the fire over the weekend, Steriti said, though resources will dwindle as things improve.
Additional fire updates are available at www.cresa911.org.
