As forecasters nervously watch the hot weather, two fires in Central Washington that broke out this week continue to threaten homes. The Mills Canyon Fire, south of Entiat, started Tuesday and is still raging across 18,065 acres. With only 19 percent of the fire contained, 646 firefighters are fighting to control it. Highway 97A was closed again this morning, with a portion of the unburned area now burning, said public information officer Laurie Dowie. Evacuations have been ordered in four different locations in Entiat and threaten 164 structures. Three outbuildings have been damaged along the Entiat River. The 25 Mile Creek Fire, west of Chelan, Thursday but crews made significant progress overnight, according to spokesman Rick Acosta. The fire has burned 400 acres and residents of six homes along Shady Pass Road have been asked to evacuate. Four twenty-person crews are working to contain the fire. “We’re very optimistic at quelling the fire,” Acosta said, “unless unforeseen events occur.”Both fires’ causes are under investigation and there are no reported fatalities or injures as of yet. — J.B.
Fire status map at 10 a.m Friday Northwest Interagency Coordination Center
