The Senlahican fire is burning across about 9,000 acres in Okanogan County, Washington, threatening homes and buildings as crews work to slow its advance. The blaze has become one of several wildfires keeping firefighters busy across the state as hot, dry conditions persist through the end of July.
The fire is burning in a rural stretch of north-central Washington. Officials say the Senlahican fire is located about 12 miles west of Tonasket, an area where the flames have moved close enough to put nearby homes and other structures at risk as the fire continues to grow.
With the fire pressing toward populated areas, authorities have ordered residents out of harm's way. Level 3 go now evacuations are in effect for several areas, the most urgent evacuation level, signaling that people in those zones should leave immediately rather than wait for conditions to worsen.
The fire's origins trace back to the start of the week. Officials say the Senlahican fire started Sunday afternoon and was caused by lightning, making it one of several lightning-sparked wildfires that have broken out across Washington in recent days as storms moved through the region.
So far, crews have not been able to gain the upper hand on the blaze. Officials report no containment on the Senlahican fire, meaning firefighters have yet to establish control lines around any portion of its perimeter as the fire keeps burning through the surrounding terrain.
The days ahead could bring added difficulty for those on the fire lines. A fire weather watch is in effect for Saturday across central and eastern Washington, with forecasters warning of gusty winds reaching up to 50 miles an hour, conditions that can push wildfires quickly and carry embers as far as a mile or more.