Wildfires update: Idaho evacuations ordered; Washingon residents go home

Update:

  SEATTLE (AP) -- Thunderstorms and lightning are threatening fire officials' plans to contain a large blaze in central Washington state as hundreds of Washington and California residents return home to find out whether their homes were spared.
   In Idaho, authorities have issued issued a mandatory evacuation order for some 350 homes in the area around Featherville due to thick smoke. That town and the community of Pine, both recreation getaways in the mountains 105 miles northeast of Boise, remain in the path of the 130-square-mile Trinity Ridge Fire.
   To the west, many residents in Washington state are returning to the south and east sides of a 35-square mile blaze in the Cascade Range, about 75 miles east of Seattle. That fire destroyed 70 residential properties and 210 other structures.
   Firefighters in California are making progress on some of the nearly dozen wildfires burning across that state, including one in rural San Diego County.
   Crews also are gaining ground against a series of Northern California wildfires.
   A light sprinkling of rain has helped crews battling a large fire in the Plumas National Forest, about 120 miles north of Sacramento. The Chips fire is 34 percent contained, but continues to threaten about 900 homes.
  
Update:
Wildfires burn in Washington, California and Idaho

   SEATTLE (AP) -- Fire officials are preparing for the possibility that lighting and thunderstorms could make it more difficult to contain a large blaze in central Washington state.
   The 35-square mile blaze is near the town of Cle Elum in the Cascade Range, about 75 miles east of Seattle. It's destroyed 70 residential properties and 210 other structures.
   In Idaho, Pine and Featherville remain in the path of a 130-square-mile wildfire and evacuations are under way.
   Authorities also are warning residents to leave ahead of a wildfire in Custer County
   Crews in California are making progress on some of the nearly dozen wildfires burning across that state. About 400 residents have been allowed to return home in a rural area of San Diego County.
   Firefighters also are making progress against a series of wildfires burning in Northern California, but lightning has started more fires.
   Meanwhile, crews continue to fight two huge wildfires on national parkland in Northern California.

Fire evacuees in Washington and California return home

   SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- It's unclear what some people will find when they get there but hundreds of people in Washington and California who fled out-of-control wildfires are being allowed to return to their homes.
   Meanwhile, some residents of rural central Idaho were told to head in the opposite direction as blazes continued to burn throughout the West.
   In Washington, a 22,700-acre fire about 75 miles east of Seattle was 40 percent contained late Friday. Firefighters hope to have the fire contained Sunday.
   But the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for high wildfire danger in effect through Saturday night on the east side of the Cascades. In addition to the hot, dry conditions, there's a chance for dry thunderstorms Saturday evening with lightning that could start more fires.Wildfires update: Idaho evacuations ordered; Washingon residents go home

Posted: Saturday, August 18 2012, 08:06 PM CDT