Satus Pass Fire Continues to Grow

The Washington State Department of Transportation says US 97 over Satus Pass will not reopen AGAIN today due to heavy smoke and poor visibility.

The Mile Marker 28 fire is now estimated at more than 17,000 acres.

The State Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol and fire officials are continually reevaluating conditions. The fire is located 15 miles northeast of Goldendale, Washington along Highway 97 and is burning in grasslands, shrub brush and timber.

Right now more than 1,100 personnel are battling the fire. Officials say a total of 144 structures have been evacuated, 69 of those structures are residential buildings.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and remains under investigation. The fire was about 15 percent contained on Sunday and about 1,100 people are working on the blaze.