Wildfires Over Weekend Near Wenatchee and Ellensburg

A wildfire that burned sagebrush and grass south of Ellensburg in central Washington is contained.
Debbie Robinson with the state Department of Natural Resources said Saturday morning that the actual size of the blaze was half what was initially reported. She says crews using a GPS unit in the air measured it about 2,000 acres, or about 3 square miles.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation. No homes were threatened.
Robinson says crews monitoring the area Saturday did not anticipate problems.
A section of eastbound Interstate 82 was closed for about three hours Thursday night because of the smoky fire in the Manastash Ridge area. It reopened when the fire was no longer close to the roadway.
Authorities have urged residents of eight homes near a brush fire on a hillside in central Washington to evacuate and put those living in an additional 60 residences on notice that they may need to flee if conditions worsen.
Rich Magnussen of the Chelan County sheriff's emergency management team says residents of those eight homes in Wenatchee have been strongly encouraged to leave because wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph are expected.
He says most people likely went back to their homes after leaving initially. He says a shelter didn't report anyone checking in.
The size of the Skyline Drive Fire reported early Sunday was revised down to about 180 acres, based on more accurate mapping and satellite data. No structures have been damaged.
The blaze is about 90 percent contained.

Filed Under: wildfire