08/20/2008

Associated Press

Residents of nearly 50 homes were told they needed to evacuate to escape a wildire in Eastern Washington's Lincoln County.

The Swanson Lake Fire was burning over 15,415 acres Tuesday night — more than 24 square miles.

Fire spokesman Mark Morrow says the level-three evacuation order was issued in the Hawk Creek Ranch area, about 10 miles northwest of Davenport. A level-three order — the highest level — means residents should leave immediately, because rescuers likely won't be able to reach them if the situation worsens.

Morrow says nobody has been hurt, and about 390 firefighters and support personnel are on the scene. The fire is burning in grass and sagebrush along with some scattered timber.

The blaze was reported Monday afternoon and destroyed an abandoned grange and an abandoned farmhouse. It's burning on state Department of Resouces land and some fire district land.

The fire began southeast of Creston, Wash., and moved to the northeast. It temporarily closed U.S. Highway 2 and State Route 25 Monday night, but the highways were open Tuesday.

Morrow says the cause of the fire is under investigation, but lightning is a likely suspect.