SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Spokane Valley Fire authorities said the Upriver Beacon Fire started as a structure fire and quickly spread to the northeast.
Over the course of the evening, the fire was upgraded to a third alarm and Department of Natural Resources was asked to respond along with air support. At the height of the fight Tuesday afternoon, more than 50 support vehicles were assisting in extinguishing the fire.
Fire crews are still on scene Wednesday morning as the fire burns on East Upriver just east of Frederick. Officials said fire activity did die down overnight, but hotspots and active flames remain within the perimeter.
Crews have set a perimeter around 100 percent of the fire.
Crews also want to remind the public to stay away from power lines, as they have been damaged in the fire. They will be working with Avista to make repairs on Wednesday.
Officials said all level 3 evacuations have been downgraded to level 2.
There are level 2 evacuations south of Valley Springs, east of Shields Park and North of Upriver Drive.
There are also level 1 evacuations in place for south of Bigelow Gulch Road to west of Argonne Road to east of Havana Street to north Upriver Drive. This means you should be ready to leave in a moment's notice. Police have also blocked off the top of Columbia Driver and are asking people to keep the street clear. There are still three homes that are still under a level three evacuation. There are firefighters staged at each of those homes.
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story said evacuations were east of Argonne Road.
PHOTOS: Fire burning on Upriver near Beacon Hill
A Red Cross Shelter opened at 7:30 p.m. at Bowdish Middle School. Pets are welcome.
They said several structures are burning. One structure is a total loss. Multiple homes, crops, communications infrastructure, power transmission lines and other resources are being threatened.
The fire is burning 115 acres and is zero percent contained as of 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. It is rapidly burning to the southeast.
Officials said the fire crested the hill. Two helicopter are on scene. Due to steep and rocky terrain, it is becoming hard to fight from the ground. Air tankers have joined in reducing the fire. They started dropping retardant on the fire around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. About 50 percent of the fire lines have been reinforced with bulldozers and a hand line has been dug.
Spokane Valley firefighters said more than nine fire departments responded to the scene. State mobilization resources have been approved. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered four wildland strike teams and one urban strike team. The Department of Natural Resources sent five DNR engines, three fire bosses and two helicopters.
As of Wednesday morning, crews from four Washington counties and one Idaho county, one federal crew, and one state crew are responding.