Washington wildfires burn 1 home, threaten dozens of others

A tree flares up along the southwestern edge of the Blue Creek fire in the Blue Mountains near Walla Walla, Wash., on Monday, July 20, 2015. Several wildfires lit up Washington state on Tuesday, closing freeways, including a major east-west artery, destroying at least one home and threatening dozens of others. (Greg Lehman/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin via AP). A tree flares up along the southwestern edge of the Blue Creek fire in the Blue Mountains near Walla Walla, Wash., on Monday, July 20, 2015. Several wildfires lit up Washington state on Tuesday, closing freeways, including a major east-west artery, destroying at least one home and threatening dozens of others. (Greg Lehman/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin via AP).

By Associated Press July 21, 2015 2 min read

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) – Several wildfires lit up Washington state on Tuesday, destroying at least one home and threatening dozens of others.

In eastern Washington, a brush fire burned at least one property and forced a handful of homes in a rural neighborhood to evacuate, said Patty Courson, a spokeswoman with the Walla Walla County Emergency Management. The blaze briefly forced residents to flee about 30 homes Monday.

Winds and hot, dry conditions could spread the flames and threaten more buildings, fire officials said. Low snowpack levels, record warm temperatures and very dry conditions have helped fuel blazes throughout drought-stricken Washington state.

Authorities are investigating what caused the fire to ignite after noon Monday and scorch nearly 4 square miles east of Walla Walla near Blue Creek and Klicker Mountain.

“It’s a very dynamic fire, so it’s zero percent contained. They haven’t been able to get out in front of it,” Courson said.