A wildfire burning in the Medical Lake area is threatening homes and has crossed over onto Fairchild Air Force Base.
Guy Gifford from the Washington Department of Natural Resources estimates more than 100 acres of brush, timber and grass have burned. He says the front of the fire is still spreading.
Officials have ordered a level three evacuation for homeowners in the area. That’s the most urgent level.
“Some homes are literally within 50 feet of the fire's edge. That area, though, where the fire is closest to the homes is knocked down and it’s kind of near the back of the fire. Where I’m sitting right now we have three homes that the fire burned up to, basically, the yard," Gifford said.
He says more than 100 firefighters are battling it with more than 20 engines on the ground and three large tankers and two helicopters dropping water from the air.
The evacuation area is bounded by Bartholomew on the west, Highway 902 on the south, Welcome Road on the east and Fairchild on the north.
Fairchild Air Force Base officials say the fire breached the base near the survival school on base. They say there’s no damage to structures on base property. They’ve asked base employees and residents to stay out of the area.