CLE ELUM, Wash. -- Fueled by wind and tinder-dry conditions, an estimated 3,000-acre fire destroyed at least two dozen homes and buildings, threatened about 100 others, forced widespread evacuations and was still growing late Monday.
By early evening, the fire had jumped several roads about six miles east of Cle Elum, including U.S. Highway 97, which was shut down. No injuries had been reported.
"The main focus is on structure protection and evacuation" rather than trying to contain the fire, said Richelle Risdon of Kittitas County Fire District No. 7.
More than 150 firefighters from across the region had arrived by Monday evening and more are expected today.
In addition to firefighters from local, county and state agencies, several air units -- three helicopters and two fixed-wing airplanes -- were dropping water and retardant.
Asked how long it would take to contain the blaze, dubbed the Taylor Bridge Fire, Risdon said it was far too early to tell.
"That's a hard one to answer. We need more resources and firefighters," she said.
Depending on how much progress firefighters make overnight, conditions today could be especially difficult. The National Weather Service is predicting winds of 13 to 17 mph, with gusts up to 28 mph in the Kittitas Valley. Winds reached 14 mph Monday.
Because of the size of the fire, considered the region's largest in years, responsibility for overseeing firefighting efforts will shift from local agencies to the state today.
Risdon said the fire started -- no one is sure how -- about 1:20 p.m. near State Route 10 and Taylor and Hart roads.
Pushed by winds, the flames quickly spread through the area's dry grasses and scrub trees.
By midafternoon, residents in the Swauk and Hiddlen valleys, the Bettas Road area and some ranches had been asked to evacuate.
By early Monday evening, at least two homes could be seen burning off Highway 97, where swarms of grasshoppers were crossing the road trying to escape the flames.
By that point, authorities said the fire was reported to be a half to three-quarters of a mile wide.
Two dozen structures, including an unknown number of homes, were confirmed destroyed, Risdon said.
Winds had died down by late Monday, but flames were still advancing at a walking pace in a northeast direction toward plenty more dry vegetation, Risdon said.
Kittitas County authorities had been warning of a severe fire danger for several weeks. In mid-July, the Kittitas County Fire Marshal's Office imposed a burn ban that covered much of rural Kittitas County, and last week, state and federal officials placed restrictions on logging and firewood cutting.
Red Cross officials opened a shelter for evacuated residents at the Cle Elum Centennial Senior Center at 719 E. Third St., and an emergency shelter for animals was established at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds in Ellensburg.
Among the evacuated were Kat and Claud Finch. The couple had spent much of the morning doing yardwork at their home about six miles east of Cle Elum, then left to look at a tractor in Easton. As they returned to their Bettas Road home, they spotted smoke and saw their neighbors getting into cars and leaving. A deputy told them they had two minutes to get their two German shepherds, two Pomeranians and two cats. They gathered up the dogs and cats, but their chickens were left behind.
"I'm feeding my dogs in a parking lot thinking I might be homeless," Kat Finch said several hours later outside the Cle Elum shelter.
Because the shelter didn't accept animals, they were headed to Kat's mother's home on the other side of the Cascade Mountains.
Carol Wickwire, co-manager of the shelter being operated by the Kittitas County chapter of the American Red Cross, said about 10 to 15 people had stopped by. None so far were planning to stay the night.
"I don't think it has hit them that they are going to be away from their houses for more than tonight," she said.
Copyright 2012 - Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
