A forest fire burning in 20-year-old timber north of Lake Merwin had blackened about 70 acres as of 6 p.m. today, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Fire crews using engines and hand tools made an initial attack on the fire, which broke out about 3 p.m. on a state-owned tree plantation in the hills above the reservoir.
Russ Hovey, supervisor at the DNR’s dispatch office in Castle Rock, said more crews were being brought in to fight the fire, and an incident management team was working to coordinate the effort. Aerial support was available if needed.
No structures were threatened, and no estimate had been set for how long it would take to contain the fire, according to Hovey. The cause of the fire had not been determined.
