Firefighters gain upper hand in Central Washington blaze

EPHRATA — More than 50 firefighters have gained the upper hand on a 120-acre wildfire near Ephrata in central Washington.

Kyle Foreman of Grant County Emergency Management said Tuesday night that the blaze was more than 95 percent contained. No injuries were reported and fire crews managed to protect two homes that were initially threatened.

The fire started Tuesday afternoon about 11/2 miles northwest of downtown Ephrata in an area of grass and sagebrush. The cause is under investigation.

Foreman says two state Department of Natural Resources helicopters helped by dropping water on the fire.