Wildfire Starts Up Near Spokane

A new wildfire near Spokane quickly burned across 550 to 600 acres Wednesday, prompting evacuation orders for about a dozen homes.

In central Washington, a wildfire has burned close to a major highway and threatens several more homes.

In northeast Washington, fire spokesman Guy Gifford said Wednesday evening that several dozen homes in all are threatened by the blaze south of Ford that started earlier in the day. About 100 firefighters were on the lines with planes and helicopters dropping water and retardant.

Gifford said he wasn't aware of any damage to homes. Several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.

In central Washington's Chelan County, a wildfire that has burned across 6,100 acres, or 9 ½ square miles, west of Entiat burned close to U.S. Highway 97A, prompting the temporary closure of a 30-mile stretch of that road between Wenatchee and Chelan. Mandatory evacuation notices were issued for several homes there Wednesday night. Several dozen other homeowners were on alert.

About 250 firefighters attacked the Mills Canyon fire on Wednesday.