Brush fire burns 900 acres in Grant County; closes I

A spokesman with the Grant County sheriff’s office said Tuesday morning that the fire has burned up to 900 acres and did not grow rapidly overnight.

A brush fire along Interstate 90 near George sparked up again Monday afternoon, forcing evacuations and causing authorities to close a portion of the freeway in central Washington.

Renae Crippen of the Blue Mountain Interagency Fire Center said no injuries have been reported, but more structures may be threatened.

The residents of 50 homes have been told to prepare to leave if the fire comes their way.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on June 19, 2015, at 6:15 pm at the request of Grant County Fire District #3.

Officials ordered residents in about three dozen homes to evacuate due to approaching flames, though those orders had been lifted by Monday evening after winds changed direction and firefighters dug containment lines to protect the houses, he said.

The sheriff said the fire has burned 700-800 acres of grass and sage.

It’s not clear how long the lanes would be closed.

The interstate was closed for several hours Sunday, but reopened just before 8 p.m. after troopers believed the fire to be closed.

There were no reports of injury, he added.

Traffic is backed up in Eastern Washington while a brush fire burns near the freeway.

Another fire briefly closed U.S. Highway 2 in both directions near Monroe late Monday afternoon.

The brush fire is burning just west of State Route 9 and about 25 miles northeast of Seattle.