Fast-growing wildfire closes portion of I-90 near Kittitas

Associated Press

SPOKANE — A fast-growing wildfire in the parched sage lands of central Washington state has grown to more than 109 square miles and closed a portion of eastbound Interstate 90, the state’s main east-west highway.

The wildfire grew dramatically late Thursday, closing eastbound lanes near the town of Kittitas.

Officials say about 150 firefighters are battling the flames.

There were no reports of injuries or any structures lost in the sparsely populated area.

“This is the busiest (wildfire) season we’ve ever seen in Washington,’” state Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz tweeted, with more than 400 fires reported this year.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help with costs for a wildfire burning in Grant County, Washington.

That fire started Thursday and has burned some 1.6 square miles of state and private land, and was 10 percent contained. At one time it threatened more than 1,000 homes and other infrastructure around the town of Desert Aire, triggering the federal aid.

There were six other large fires burning uncontrolled within Washington, and multiple others across the border in Oregon.

Crews on Friday battled a major wildfire in north-central Oregon that had grown to 109 square miles. The Substation Fire, near The Dalles, Oregon, was about 15 percent contained on Friday, fought by about 300 firefighters. It was blamed for the death of a farmer.