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Fire near Roosevelt is 50% contained

Published  August 6, 2015 9:46am PDT
Associated Press

ROOSEVELT, Wash. (AP) — A big wildfire near the Columbia River has grown to 37.5 square miles, but is 50 percent contained.

Officials say the Highway 8 Fire near the town of Roosevelt is no longer threatening any homes. When the fire started on Tuesday it led to the evacuation of the town of Roosevelt, but people were allowed back in their homes on Wednesday.

Fire spokesman Ron Fryer says 275 people are battling the grass fire and hoped to have it 100 percent contained by Saturday evening.

Fryer says the fire grew quickly on Wednesday because of 20 mph winds, but winds were much calmer on Thursday.

State and local crews are fighting the blaze, located about a mile north of the Klickitat County town on the Oregon border.