Huge Schneider Springs Fire Grows Larger Threatens More Areas
The firefight continues Thursday against the large Schneider Springs Fire which grew more than 20,000 acres on Wednesday.
THE FIRE IS NOW CLOSE TO HIGHWAY 410
The fire, which is now burning about a quarter of a mile from the Nile and about a mile from Highway 410 grew to a whopping 56,422 acres with no containment on Wednesday. Officials are now alerting people who live near the fire to evacuate as well as doing all they can to move horses and livestock. The fire was more than 31,000 acres on Wednesday.
level 3 evacucation notices are going to all residents on Chinook Pass from the Woodshed to the Y, and level 2 notices on White Pass from the Y up to Dog Lake.
ALL EVACUATION NOTICES REMAIN IN PLACE
Officials with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest say all evacuation notices remain the same . A LEVEL 3 evacuation order has been issued for the following areas: Rock Creek Road to Little Naches Road along Hwy 410 and south to Nile Road; all land west of Nile River Road off Hwy 410; and the Bumping River Road and drainage area. Hwy 410 from Eagle Rock north to Rock Creek Rd and from Little Naches Road west to Bumping River Road is currently still in a LEVEL 2.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE HOPING FOR FULL CONTAINMENT BY OCTOBER
State officials now estimate full containment by October 1.
Calmer winds and cooler temperatures are expected this week, providing a much-needed relief for crews on the ground and slowing fire activity.
500 people are working to fight the fire.
The officials say check with Yakima County Office of Emergency Management’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YakimaCountyOEM for updates on evacuation information.
The fire was started on August 3 by a lightning strike. It's burning in an area that's tough for firefighters to access.
The blaze started burning about 18 miles from of Naches in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Campfire restrictions remain in place in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.