Wildfire prompts some evacuations in Ferry County

REPUBLIC, Wash. (AP) — Firefighters battling a 262-square mile wildfire near the town of Republic plan to ignite a back burn a couple of miles west of the Ferry County town to slow the advance of the flames.

As a result, they have ordered mandatory evacuations Wednesday of some rural areas west of the town in the vicinity of the back burn.

The Ferry County Sheriff's Office says only a few rural homes and some campsites are covered by the evacuation notice.

Fire spokesman Donnie Davis says the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and that it is burning in timber and grassland between Republic and Nespelem.

Davis says air quality is poor because of an inversion in the area.