Fires threaten homes in Coulee

COULEE CITY - Two wildfires have burned nearly 27,000 acres straddling the Grant-Douglas county line since igniting Sunday evening, threatening dozens of homes in the area.

The Barker Canyon Fire, nearly six miles southeast of town, has churned through more than 14,000 acres of sage and grass as of Monday, state officials said.

The nearby Leahy Junction Fire has claimed roughly 14,000 acres, also of sage and grass.

According to the National Interagency Coordination Center, evacuation procedures are underway.

Crews from Grant County Fire District 14 and Douglas County Fire District 3 are working both fires.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized mobilization of state fire fighting resources to the fires Sunday night, bringing in extra fighters to extinguish the blazes.

Grant County Fire District 5 Chief Dan Smith said local personnel and equipment have been dispatched to assist.

A 12-person strike team comprised of fighters from Ephrata, Warden and fire districts 3, 5 and 10 are onscene, as are two five-ton tactical tenders and a water tender.

The National Weather Service predicted wind gusts up to 28 miles per hour Monday, giving the fire plenty of potential to spread.

Throughout the day, the service predicted west winds from eight to 21 miles per hour.

Winds should slow to 5 to 10 mph today.

Smoky skies should be the norm throughout the basin through Thursday evening, the service predicted.

Adding to the haze are several other fires burning in the area: the Canyon Fire burning near Wenatchee and the 2,000-acre Apache Pass Fire near Odessa.

The Canyon Fire is one of an estimated 110 fires ignited in the Wenatchee area after a Saturday thunderstorm.

It has spread to 860 acres and threatens up to 140 structures, nearly 40 of which have been placed on level 3 evacuation, Wenatchee police Sgt. John Kruse said.

Level 3 means that authorities are advising residents to evacuate as their homes are in imminent danger.

Many others remain on level 2 evacuation status, where residents are advised to be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice.

Several residents between Odessa and Creston have been alerted to level 2 status.

The National Weather Service predicts wind gusts up to 31 miles per hour Monday night in the Wenatchee area.

The service maintained a red flag warning for the entire region from Canadian to Oregon borders.

The warning indicates high wind and low humidity, elevating the risk for more fires.

It remained in effect until late Monday night.