WENATCHEE, Wash. – Residents of more than 70 homes near Lake Wenatchee (search) were told Monday they should evacuate to avoid a fast-burning wildfire.
The blaze started late Saturday as a structure fire on private land and eventually spread to parts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (search) in central Washington.
The fire had burned about 500 acres of brush and trees as wind increased Monday along a storm front.
Residents of 73 dwellings were ordered to evacuate and occupants of another 70 scattered homes in the area remained under notice they also may have to leave, Forest Service (search) spokesman Robin DeMario said.
No houses had been damaged as of Monday and no injuries were reported.
Firefighters were using hiking trails to help build fire lines, and helicopters and air tankers were dropping water and retardant, DeMario said.
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