A growing wildfire has prompted evacuations in two eastern Washington State communities as helicopter crews raced to rescue residents “trapped by the fires,” which had rapidly burned more than 3,000 acres in a few hours on Friday, the authorities said. The wildfire, which began around noon and has been named the Gray Fire, caused evacuations in the communities of Medical Lake and Four Lakes, which together have over 5,000 residents. Mayor Terri Cooper of Medical Lake warned residents on Facebook on Friday afternoon that they needed to “get out now” and that transportation to shelters was available. Joe Smillie, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, said by phone on Friday that several structures had been destroyed in Medical Lake by the wildfire, which remained zero percent contained on Friday night and was being pushed by wind gusts of around 35 miles per hour.

---

Persons: Terri Cooper, Joe Smillie Organizations: Facebook, Washington State Department of Natural Resources Locations: Washington State, Medical, Four, Medical Lake