Latest on Fire Between Cle Elum & Ellensburg - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

CLE ELUM, Wash. - Here's the latest information from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office regarding the fire between Cle Elum and Ellensburg: At 1:19 pm, a brush fire started at MP 90 on SR10, at Taylor Road and Hart Road, between Cle Elum and Thorp. Fire units are on scene and attempting to contain the fire, which is spreading rapidly east and the area is under evacuation. The first is estimated to be 2800 acre... s as of 5:45 pm. As of 5:00 pm, Sheriff's Office has advised of a Stage 3 evacuation – Current conditions present specific and immediate threat(s) to the life and safety of persons within this area. People in the affected areas are advised to evacuate immediately. Air assets are available to evacuate persons who are unable to leave via roads. As of 5:00 pm, the fire jumped SR97 just below Elk Horn Road, headed east towards Green Canyon and Reecer Creek. The Emergency Operations Center has ordered evacuations for the following areas: Bettas Valley, Swauk Valley, Teanaway, and homes on the westside of SR97 between SR97 and Swauk, SunEast, Upper Reecer Creek, Green Canyon, areas northeast of Ellensburg (specifically homes with no green/defendable space around them). Fire has been reported to be ½ mile to ¾ mile wide and has jumped Reecer Creek Road, above Smithson Road. An emergency shelter has been opened at the Cle Elum Centennial Senior Center, 719 East Third Street, Cle Elum, 509-674-7530. An emergency animal shelter has been set up at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds. Residents downwind of the fire should expect smoky conditions and poor air quality. At 3:30 pm, the Board of County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency. The fire has been declared a State Mobilization fire. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated at the Sheriff's Office. SR97 is closed from Smithson Road to SR970; SR97 closed at SR10, local traffic only. SR970 is currently open. In response to the State Mobilization request, Type 2 Incident Management team will be on site at 0600 Tuesday to assume control of the fire. Updates will follow as available; EOC command requests media to not call KITTCOM for updates, as the Dispatch Center is inundated with phone calls.