Wildfire in SW Washington grows, prompts evacuation orders
A wildfire fed by gusty winds and low humidity east of Vancouver, Washington, doubled in size Sunday, prompting authorities to order evacuations as the blaze sent up a plume of white smoke visible throughout the metropolitan area that Vancouver shares with Portland, Oregon.
Dubbed the Nakia Creek Fire, the blaze in east Clark County was burning in rugged terrain of brush and timber and had charred about 400 acres by Sunday afternoon, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources said. Residents of an estimated 1,000 homes were under evacuation orders, the department said.
#NakiaCreekFire update: State Mobilization has been authorized in support of the #NakiaCreekFire. The fire is approximately 400 acres and growing, burning in timber, brush, and grass. approx. 1,000 homes are under evacuation. Follow @CRESA for evacuation info.
— Washington State DNR Wildfire (@waDNR_fire) October 16, 2022
The Clark Emergency Services Agency expanded evacuation zones into rural outskirts of Camas and Washougal, The Columbian reported.
“Please understand that this is a very dynamic situation and if you are anywhere near this area, you should take precautions to evacuate,” the emergency services agency said in a statement.
Crews had secured a perimeter containing 20% of the fire burning in the Larch Block of the Yacolt Burn State Forest. The National Weather Service had posted a red flag warning for wind and low humidity in the region, including the south Washington Cascades, with wind gusts up to 30 mph for Sunday.
A shelter for evacuees was opened at a church in Camas.
About 100 personnel were battling the fire, which began Oct. 9.
A view of the Nakia Fire in Clark County as seen on Friday.
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