Gray Fire burns near Medical Lake

MEDICAL LAKE – A fire that destroyed homes and prompted multiple residents to evacuate is still burning.

As of Monday afternoon, the Gray Fire was estimated to have consumed 10,014 acres and destroyed 185 homes.

At least one person is reported to have died as a result of the fire; details on that fatality have not yet been released.

Interstate 90 from Sprague to Spokane was closed from Friday through Monday afternoon as the fire encroached on the highway.

But with only embers smoldering along I-90, the main route across Eastern Washington was reopened Monday afternoon, helping to alleviate backups caused by detours through Harrington, Edwall, Davenport, Reardan, Tyler and Cheney.

Gov. Jay Inslee, a Bainbridge Island Democrat, visited the fire area Sunday, using the limelight to blame the fire on climate change.

State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, also a Bainbridge Island Democrat, visited Monday morning.

The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

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Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

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