Big Wildfire Threatens Resort Town in Washington

Lorne Brunson stands near the remains of his home, which was lost to a wildfire on Saturday near Coyote Canyon, Sunday, Aug 16, 2015, in Fruitland, Wash. Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Janet Pierce says most of the state is under a red-flag warning as windy and hot conditions made areas tinder-dry. Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review via AP

SPOKANE, Wash.—Big wildfires threatened the Lake Chelan resort region of central Washington on Monday after driving away tourists, destroying a warehouse filled with nearly 2 million pounds of apples and forcing thousands of residents to flee.

The several large fires burning near the town of Chelan have scorched more than 155 square miles and destroyed an estimated 75 homes and businesses Friday and Saturday, officials said. Scores of homes remain threatened, and mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect for more than 2,900 people in the Chelan area.

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