Badger Lake fire grows

CHENEY -- A series of small wildfires has grown into a 200-acre-plus blaze near Badger Lake about 15 miles south of Cheney.

The fires began around 5:04 p.m. Sunday evening under hot, dry conditions, and are burning in grassy areas dotted with stands of ponderosa pine. According to a news release from the Washington State Patrol, about 50-70 homes are threatened. Initially, Level 2 "be prepared to leave" evacuation orders were enacted but state Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Isabella HoyGaard told local media this morning that Level 3 evacuation notices are in place for residents...