Washington Wildfire

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The largest wildfire in Washington state history grew by another 22 square miles on Friday, and fire officials worried that high winds over the weekend would only make the situation worse.

At least 472 square miles of land have been burned by the Okanogan fires, which were only 23 percent contained Saturday afternoon.The wind-whipped and drought-fueled fire has destroyed at least 45 homes, 49 cabins and 60 outbuildings, and three firefighters have died battling the blaze. A memorial service was planned Sunday in Wenatchee.

Fire spokeswoman Sierra Hellstrom said temperatures were lower and humidity higher on Friday — conditions expected to slow the fire.However, lightning and high winds predicted for the weekend could spread the flames, she said.The fire was just five miles from merging with a 281-square-mile wildfire north of Nespelem, Hellstrom said.

Meanwhile, a wildfire burning in Stevens County north of Spokane grew almost 15 square miles overnight after jumping a containment line and stood at 87 square miles. That fire was about 25 percent contained.

"The winds, terrain and vegetation have created the potential for large growth," fire officials said in a press release.

With wind gusts expected to reach 20 mph, firefighters were concerned the blaze could threaten homes.

Meanwhile, high fire danger prompted the U.S. Forest Service to close an area north of Highway 2 that includes a major portion of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest from f the Columbia River to the crest of the Cascade Range.

All the fires burning in eastern Washington were hurting air quality. Readings were hazardous in Republic, Omak and Nespelem, and unhealthy in Colville, Wellpinit and Davenport.

More than 7.7 million acres have burned in wildfires this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. That's well above the 10-year average of about 5.4 million acres through Aug. 28.

There are currently dozens of large wildfires burning across the West; here's an update on a few of them.