A wildfire has forced residents in hundreds of homes to evacuate in central Washington state, authorities said Monday.
The fire began Sunday afternoon outside Wenatchee but was burning within the city limits late Sunday night, Rich Magnussen of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said.
The fast-moving fire “significantly damaged” an estimated 24 to 28 homes, Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz said.
The cause of the fire was uncertain, but temperatures in the region have topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit for days, and rainfall has been scarce.
About 3,000 acres had burned as of Monday, according to the Chelan County Fire Department.
Several firefighters suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, while battling the blaze, the department said.
Last week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation, saying the state was under extreme wildfire risk.
“The fire danger now is unlike any we’ve seen in a long time, if ever,” he said. “We need to be prepared for the possibility of an unprecedented fire season.”