LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — About 168 homes are threatened and residents have been evacuated as a 40-acre wildfire burns near Leavenworth.
The wildfire, about four miles north of Leavenworth at Spromberg Canyon, started in a log yard and spread to nearby timber and brush late Tuesday morning. High winds created several spot fires as the fire continued to burn on Wednesday.
Swirling wind conditions on Wednesday kept the firefighters working hard to contain sparks that could set other trees outside the fire zone ablaze, officials said.
"I'm not seeing any dramatic fire change or growth, but the wind is strong," Northwest Incident Management Team spokesman Brendan Cowan said. "It's still a challenging fire environment. It's far from being a fully contained fire."
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Emergency management issued a level 3 alert — meaning people should leave the area — for an area around Spromberg Canyon Road. Chumstick Highway is closed at Eagle Creek and Sunitsch Canyon. Chelan County Emergency Management is posting updates on road closures to their Twitter page. Read the latest here.
Here is exactly what wildfire alerts mean:
- Level 1 = alert. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists, and monitor local media outlets for information. Residents with special needs, or those with pets or livestock, should take note and make preparations for relocating family members, pets, and livestock.
- Level 2 = significant risk to your area, and residents should voluntarily relocate outside of the area, or, be ready to leave at a moments notice.
- Level 3 = you should leave immediately
Ross Frank, owner of Red-Tail Canyon Farm, said the fire was burning about a quarter mile (.40 kilometers) from his farm with draft horses and forest where weddings, barbeques and sleigh rides are held.
"It's our whole livelihood," Frank said. "Everything we do is right here on the ranch."
He was told to evacuate but stayed home because he is also a firefighter and spent 19 hours helping at the blaze site.
>> PHOTOS: Wildfire burns near Leavenworth
DNR sent three helicopters, five engines, and two crews to the fire in hopes of controlling it before dark.
A temporary shelter for residents was set up at a local church. There is no word on when they could return home.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Last summer, a fire scorched nearly 500 acres northeast of Leavenworth.