A reward is being offered in the hope of finding out who sparked one of Washington's most destructive recent wildfires. Investigators have announced a 25,000 dollar reward to help determine the cause of the Chelan Hills fire, which has left a deep mark on the community.
The scale of the blaze has been enormous. The wildfire has scorched nearly 10,000 acres. Crews have made significant progress and now have the fire 95 percent contained, but officials say the damage that has already been done is heartbreaking.
The human and property toll is what has shaken the area most. The blaze claimed the life of one man and destroyed at least 19 homes. Families who lived in the path of the flames have been left to grapple with devastating losses.
The fire moved fast once it began. It started near Highway 97 and spread quickly through the surrounding hills, giving residents little time to react. Among the structures lost was a well known local inn that had been built into the hillside, a landmark that drew visitors from across the region.
The conditions that fueled the fire remain a concern. Fire danger across the state has stayed high amid hot, dry and breezy weather, with very low humidity. Drought has spread into the north central part of Washington, and a red flag warning was set to go into effect heading into the weekend.
The Chelan Hills fire is not the only wildfire burning in the state. The so called B and O fire has scorched around 2,000 acres in Okanogan County, prompting evacuations as it spread through grass and brush. With fire concerns remaining high, officials say they are keeping a close eye on conditions through the rest of the summer season.