Firefighters Douse Flareup of Wildfire Near Wenatchee, Washington

July 27, 2005
Firefighters backed by two helicopters made a stand Tuesday against a flareup in a 2,000-acre wildfire, keeping the flames from reaching nearby wheat fields, a fire spokesman said.

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- Firefighters backed by two helicopters made a stand Tuesday against a flareup in a 2,000-acre wildfire, keeping the flames from reaching nearby wheat fields, a fire spokesman said.

Winds had fanned some hot spots within a burned-over area.

''The fire made it to the top of the hill, onto the plateau, but two copters and two strike teams were there to put it out,'' said State Patrol Trooper Greg Pressel, a spokesman for the state fire marshal's office.

''It did not reach the wheat fields on top of the plateau.''

About 30 homes had been on evacuation notice earlier in the day but were no longer considered threatened late Tuesday, he said.

Elsewhere in Eastern Washington, two other wildfires have been contained.

The Wenatchee-area fire, burning in grass and sage about five miles east of this central Washington city, was considered about 10 percent contained late Tuesday, with bulldozers working to carve a firebreak around it. Water has been sprayed around the edges of the fire, Pressel said.

Crews were also patrolling the fire boundaries Tuesday night.

If weather conditions are favorable, full containment could be possible by late Wednesday, Pressel said.

Temperatures in the 90s were forecast, with slight winds.

In addition to local crews, about 100 firefighters from eight counties were sent to the fire, as well as 20 engines, five water tenders, the two helicopters and two bulldozers.

The cause of the fire, first reported at 5 p.m. Monday, was under investigation, Pressel said.

No homes were threatened in earlier blazes in Klickitat and Benton counties, nor were injuries reported in any of the fires.

The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for Wednesday through Thursday evening for Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Grant, Columbia and Walla Walla counties.

Elsewhere, about 600 firefighters contained a wildfire Tuesday on more than 6,000 acres in Klickitat County, mostly in a steep draw near Washington 14 about four miles north of Roosevelt and about 30 miles east of Goldendale.

Authorities said that fire was started by a wheat harvesting combine.

A fire that began Monday afternoon on a farm in Benton County blackened 3,500 acres before being contained, said Bob Gear, fire chief for County Fire District No. 1.

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