Evacuations Lifted, But Wildfire Near Selah Still a Threat
Evacuations resulting from a brush fire burning between Selah and Naches have been lifted, but the mop up and containment still continues.
Around 2:30pm Sunday afternoon, the fire began in Box Canyon, but quickly spread because of gusty winds. It's estimated to be over 4,000 acres. Initially, 50 homes were evacuated but those have now been lifted. When gusty winds are present, these brush and wildfires and actually outrun efforts to contain and control them.
State fire resources are now on site, working with local crews to continue to contain it. The fire threatened crops, power lines, and homes, but no reports of any actual damage.
High winds all over Southeastern WA have resulted in a Red Flag fire alert through the overnight hours Monday into Tuesday. Lower humidity than normal and gusty winds could cause any fires that break out to spread very rapidly.