(Updated 10:30 a.m. ) Smoke Fills Yakima Area As Fires Continue Burning, Keeping Firefighters Busy
The Norse Peak and American Fires burning near Cliffdell are slowly growing as firefighters continue battling flames. The Norse Peak, Union Creek and Fire 367 have grown together and the blaze is now estimated at 13,367 acres The American fire is 325 acres.
Firefighters also continue the battle against the Jolly Mountain Fire burning northwest of Cle Elum. It's now at estimated at 9, 386 acres. Fire officials say the fire moved about 3 miles to the east, prompting the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office to issue Level 3 evacuation notices for residents and recreationalists in the Teanaway River corridor. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest extended its closure area all the way to Highway 97 to the east.
The Jolly Mountain fire burning near Cle Elum is forcing evacuations. The fire has grown to about 12 square miles or more than 9,000 acres. Officials in Kittitas County says they've ordered evacuations in the Middle Fork Teanaway area that's impacting 154 homes. Officials say half of the homes are primary homes and others are cabins and vacation homes.