Brush fire near chimpanzee sanctuary fully contained
Jul 3, 2016, 9:39 AM | Updated: 10:33 am
A chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, advised a fire Saturday was burning very close to their property. (Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest)
(Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest)
CLE ELUM, Wash. — People living near a wildfire in Kittitas County were told to evacuate Saturday evening as crews worked to contain a 40-acre fire.
The fire was fully contained by Sunday morning. Only smoke and logs were still burning, within the contained area. Puget Sound Energy officials were out surveying for damage.
Officials from a Cle Elum chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, said the fire spread to property they recently purchased, but that the staff and chimpanzees were unharmed.
The evacuation took place five miles east of Cle Elum near highway 10 along Hart road. The highway was shut down while crews fought the flames.
Level 3 evacuations were in place along Hart and Durango roads. The fire also cut off power in the area, officials said.
No injuries have been reported.
“The two Co-Directors are with the chimps and there is a fire crew working hard to contain it. We feel safe right now and hope that the fire is brought under control before it threatens any other properties,” sanctuary officials wrote over Facebook.
