Gov. Inslee declares state of emergency due to wildfires

Published 1:30 am Sunday, September 3, 2017

Associated Press

CLE ELUM — Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency across all Washington counties Saturday evening due growing wildfire concern.

KOMO-TV reported that families around the town of Cle Elum, about 83 miles southeast of Seattle, were still being evacuated due to the so-called Jolly Mountain fire.

The fire has grown to 28 square miles and was zero-percent contained Sunday morning.

Inslee said hot and dry conditions will make battling fires more of a challenge.

Nearly 1,000 residences have been evacuated under level 3 —the most urgent level— and about 1,200 are under level 2 evacuation notices.

There’s also a wildfire burning near Mount Rainier.

Some fear the Norse Peak Fire could threaten the Crystal Mountain Ski area.

A third blaze, the Uno Peak Fire, has forced the closure of the South Navarre Campground and trails in Lake Chelan.