Badger Mountain Complex Fire prompts evacuation

Badger Mountain Complex Fire prompts evacuation

Steve Smith, left, and Tim Timpe, both of Leavenworth, Wash., and the Chelan County Fire Department, look over the amount of possible fuel for the wildfire at their post on the Badger Mountain Road in East Wenatchee, Wash., early Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

By KOMO Staff

WENATCHEE, Wash. -- The Badger Mountain Complex Fire burning near East Wenatchee triggered a level-3 evacuation late Friday night.

The fire had jumped retardant lines and gotten dangerously close to a large gas tank in an orchard, prompting officials to issue the evacuation order for residents on Longview Road just before 11 p.m.

About 30 families in the area were ordered to evacuate immediately due to an unexpected wind shift. A stretch of Highway 97 was also shut down.

The blaze, which is not yet contained, grew from 8,250 acres on Friday morning to more than 9,000 acres by Friday night. Officials did not yet know the exact size of the wildfire, but said it had absorbed the Ornodo wildfire.

About 80 firefighters are battling the blaze.
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