Crews continue to tackle an 18,000 acre wildfire burning in central Washington.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office Thursday said firefighters have made tremendous progress in battling the 243 Command Fire, which ignited near the Wanapum Dam late Monday night, forcing evacuations in the nearby community of Smyrna. The evacuations have since been set at Level 2.
Strong winds Wednesday pushed the fire to the East through Lower Crab Creek Canyon, but crews were able to contain it between the canyon’s northern and southern ridges. Some 350 personnel have the blaze 50 percent contained.
Evacuation levels are expected to lower Thursday and fire managers plan to have mop up and rehab operations close to completion by the end of shift Friday.
No homes have been damaged, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. (Washington Type 3 Interagency Team)
