By Pete O’Cain / The Wenatchee World
WINTHROP — A pair of wildfires outside Winthrop have burned nearly 50,000 acres and led authorities to issue emergency evacuation orders to more than 400 homes.
The Cub Creek 2 Fire five miles north of Winthrop has burned 35,134 acres and the Cedar Creek Fire near Mazama is estimated at 14,857 acres.
One structure and one travel trailer have been confirmed to be destroyed and there are reports of two more buildings lost as a result of the Cub Creek 2 Fire, said Okanogan County Emergency Management Director Maurice Goodall on Wednesday.
No structures have been destroyed in the Cedar Creek Fire.
Though smaller, the Cedar Creek Fire has prompted more evacuations.
Goodall said 301 homes are under a Level 3 evacuation — leave now — and 731 are under Level 2 — be ready to leave.
Mapping provided by the Esri Disaster Response Program shows the fire is burning along Highway 20 from about milepost 172 and milepost 180.
The fire was reported July 11 and believed to have been caused by lightning. Officials estimate Cedar Creek is 11% contained.
The Cub Creek 2 Fire was reported July 16. The cause is under investigation. It’s estimated at 5% containment.
Goodall said 128 homes are under Level 3 evacuations and 142 are under Level 2 evacuations.
Highway 20 remains closed from milepost 165 to 184. There is no estimated time of reopening, according to the state Department of Transportation.
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