Fire consumes 6,200 acres in Washington

COWICHE, Wash., July 19 (UPI) -- Homes along the edge of Yakima, Wash., were evacuated Monday ahead of an advancing wildfire that injured at least four firefighters, authorities said.

MSNBC and NBC News reported the 6,200-acre Cowiche Canyon wildfire was licking the outskirts of the city. The blaze, which began Sunday afternoon about 10 miles west of Yakima, was endangering about 150 homes in an area just west of the city by Monday afternoon.

Firefighters went door-to-door telling about 200 people to leave their homes, MSNBC said.

"I took my guns, my Harley and my horses," said Dary Reed, who left with his wife.

The injured firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and one was treated for a twisted ankle. One fire engine was destroyed and the networks said there were unconfirmed reports of three homes being burned.

More than 100 firefighters from departments across Yakima County were battling the blaze, which was only about 15 percent contained by the afternoon, officials said.

The fire was centered in the West Valley area of the county.

It started Sunday near the town of Cowiche, KPER-TV, Pasco, Wash., reported. The cause hadn't been determined.

High winds hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze, which was feeding parched sagebrush and other vegetation dried out by a monthlong dry spell and temperatures in the 90s.