Fire crews in South King County are keeping a close eye on a hillside in Auburn that went up in flames just a few hundred feet from a number of homes.
It happened just off State Route 167 near Emerald Downs around 4 p.m. Saturday.
KIRO 7 was there as neighbors watched the flames climb the hills toward the ridge.
Fire officials said the closest homes are about 500 feet away and crews were battling a number of challenges including steep terrain and dark conditions.
Right now the concern is the temperatures heating up and the fire rekindling.
“Obviously that’s a concern as the day starts to heat up and everything dries out,” said Paul Strong, battalion chief with the Valley Regional Fire authority. “That’s why we want to try and get on top of it this morning.”
Neighbor Claudette Elliott said she’s lived here for 20 years and has never seen a fire like this.
“When we were standing there ashes were falling all around us, and I said welcome to California,” said Elliott. “I mean, the sparks were going quite a way, so it could have easily gotten lot bigger, I think.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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