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Wildfire near Chelan prompts evacuations, closes highway

Photo from Washington State DNR Wildfire.

CHELAN, Wash. — A fast-moving fire has closed a highway and prompted evacuations southeast of Chelan.

Douglas County officials said on Twitter Friday that the Chelan Hills fire had closed 22 miles of Highway 97 from Beebe Bridge to Orondo.

County officials say mandatory evacuations were in effect for the Chelan Hills area with lesser evacuations in place for McNeil Canyon, Beebe Park and Lone Pine areas.

Officials say an unknown number of structures were lost or compromised.

The state Department of Natural Resources said on Twitter that state mobilization had been authorities for the fire so more resources were headed to the blaze.

The DNR said Friday afternoon that it was estimated that the fire had burned less than a square mile.

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