Tagged: Wildfires

Fire officials in central Washington are investigating whether construction at a bridge near Cle Elum sparked the 23,000 acre wildfire there. Incident commanders won’t say definitively what started the fire. But they do say the blaze was human caused and it began near the bridge construction site.

Emergency managers in central Washington have started to collect damage reports from businesses and homeowners affected by this week's destructive wildfire. That's a prerequisite to apply for federal disaster assistance. State fire investigators have established that the Taylor Bridge Fire was human-caused.

Fire officials have reduced evacuation levels for several areas around the Taylor Bridge Fire. But hundreds of displaced residents in central Washington's Kittitas County are waiting and wondering if their homes still stand. Many fled just in time. More than 70 structures have burned down.

Fire officials on the Taylor Bridge blaze near the mountain town of Cle Elum, Wash., are worried about the hot weather forecast for the next few days. Correspondent Anna King reports from the scene of the fire.

Fire fighting officials in central Washington say it will take five to seven days to contain the Taylor Bridge fire near the town of Cle Elum. In a community meeting Wednesday, incident commander Rex Reed said the blaze has burned 22,000 acres. Previous estimates pegged the fire at more than 28,000 acres. It’s destroyed at least 60 structures.

About 900 firefighters are trying to contain the Taylor Bridge fire before it destroys more homes. It’s burning in central Washington near the town of Cle Elum.

The Taylor Bridge fire in central Washington is still keeping about 450 people from their homes near the town of Cle Elum. Some residents have remained, despite the heavy smoke from a fire that’s consumed 28,000 acres.

Fire management teams are hoping that additional air support and favorable weather conditions will help in the containment of the massive Taylor Bridge Wildfire east of Cle Elum.  The blaze has consumed some 60 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.

Firefighters battling the massive Taylor Bridge Wildfire east of Cle Elum are hoping added air support and light winds will allow them to get containment up to 25 percent by this evening.