YAKIMA, Wash., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Washington state were managing to keep wildfires controlled in the face of strong winds, officials said.
Strong winds on Thursday night and Friday morning threatened to expand fires burning in Yakima and Kittitas counties, the Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic reported.
On Thursday, "the fire lines were tested by strong, gusty winds as a cold front moved across the area. These lines held and there was no growth," said Sarah Foster, spokeswoman for the interagency team managing the Diamond Butte Fire in Yakima county, in a news release Friday morning.
The Diamond Butte Fire, which has been burning since Aug. 19, was 50 percent contained, the news report said.
Wind also threatened the Taylor Bridge Fire in Kittitas county, however firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading there as well. That fire, which has burned 23,500 acres, is 91 percent contained. Fire officials hope to have it completely contained by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in California, the Ponderosa Fire, which has burned 27,676 acres, is 74 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
A total of 64 homes and 20 buildings have been destroyed by that fire.
