(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)
SPOKANE, Wash. -UPDATE: Wednesday, July 18, 7:00 am
In a fire briefing Wednesday morning, fire officials said the Upriver/Beacon Fire is still 0 percent contained, but they have a line completely around the fire.
Three homes remain under Level 3 evacuation orders.
Officials also said they believe the size to be approximately 115 acres.
Previous Coverage: Wednesday, July 18, 2018 2:00 am
The Upriver/Beacon fire's forward progress has been stopped, according to firefighters on scene.
Containment is at 0 percent, but crews have a good line around the fire.
The fire began just before 4:00 am when firefighters responded to a structure fire. Units first arriving on scene immediately upgraded the response when they found not only trees, and shrubs on fire, but also an outbuilding engulfed in flames. The fire was also moving at a high-rate of speed up Beacon Hill.
With difficult terrain to navigate, a second alarm structure fire was called out and DNR was asked to respond and bring air support.
As the fire escalated, a 3rd alarm and more resources were requested. At its peak, more than 50 apparatus were on scene fighting the blaze, including multiple aircraft dropping water and fire retardant.
As of 11:00 pm, at least two structures have been lost, but forward progress has stopped.
Crews have set up a command post at the Spokane County Fairgrounds.
Upriver will be closed East of Frederick and West of Argonne for an undetermined amount of time.
Previous Coverage:
Fire crews are battling a large brush fire near Upriver Drive.
The fire near Felts Field forced Level 3 evacuations for people South of Valley Springs, East of Minnehaha and north of Upriver. Evacuations include west of Northwood, south of Francis, and east of Upriver were additionally made.
KHQ has learned at least two homes have been lost, while several have been threatened. As of 9:30 p.m. the fire was estimated at 120 acres, but its forward progress was stopped and crews had dug a line around 50 percent of the fire.
Firefighters from all over the region are throwing everything they have at the fire, including crews on the ground and air.
Evacuation notices have been made to 770 occupancies ranging from level 1-3. As of 9:04 p.m. Tuesday, evacuation notices were reduced, meaning level 3's are now 2's, 2's are now 1's and 1's are no longer under evacuation notice.
The Red Cross is opening an evacuation shelter at Bowdish Middle School beginning at 7:30 pm.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.