The explosive Chiwaukum Creek fire outside of Leavenworth, Washington has forced hundreds to evacuate their homes and has shut down state highways as it spreads, sending up a massive smoke plume that can be seen from Seattle.
Since lightning ignited the fire on Tuesday, residents of 860 homes have been evacuated, Fox News reported on Thursday. The fire has burned more than 4,500 acres and has forced the closure of U.S. Highway 2 for 35 miles, Chelan County emergency management officials said.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the swath of central Washington where the fire is currently burning. The worsening fire weather has promoted local disaster declarations in nearly all of the state’s eastern counties, local media reported.
Smoke plume seen from WS Bridge from Chiwaukum Creek timber fire north of Leavenworth #Seattle pic.twitter.com/fT5dZjkBOm
— West Seattle Herald (@westseattleher) July 17, 2014
