05:21 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 9, 2005

Associated Press and KING5.com

POMEROY, Wash. - Nearly 1,400 firefighters were working Tuesday to control a 37,000-acre wildfire in southeastern Washington, days after the fire destroyed more than 100 residences.

AP

Smoke looms behind a house on Peola Road south of Pomery, Wash., Monday, Aug 8, 2005, as the School Fire burns in the hills.

The School fire was considered 20 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, said Mary Crowell, a fire crew spokeswoman.

The fire was moving more slowly Tuesday, Crowell said, though humidity remained low and temperatures were high - in the mid 90s.

About 1,350 people were assigned to the fire, including fire crews on the line and support staff.

Firefighters have established good lines around three sides of the fire. They were working Tuesday to protect their gains against any fresh wind-driven spot fires, particularly in heavy cured grass that could allow the blaze to accelerate rapidly.

To the south, the fire, which started Friday, continued to burn into steeper, rougher terrain in the Umatilla National Forest.

Garfield County officials estimated that more than 100 residences burned in the fire over the weekend, mostly hunting cabins, vacation homes or pads for recreational vehicles.

Fire crew officials said they could only confirm 35 burned residences. They have been scheduling evening meetings with area residents - to answer questions and outline firefighting plans and status.

The fire started Friday and the cause was under investigation.

No injuries were reported Tuesday in any Washington wildfire.

Because of heavy smoke from the School fire, the Washington state Department of Ecology said Tuesday it would not issue any permits for agricultural burning in the region as long as smoke continues to affect the area.

Other fires

Elsewhere in the state, the U.S. Forest Service expanded campfire and woodcutting restrictions in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests due to worsening fire conditions and the continued hot and dry weather. Specific information on fire closures was available from individual ranger district offices.

In northcentral Washington, about 575 firefighters were fighting the Dirty Face fire near Lake Wenatchee, about 18 miles northwest of Leavenworth. The fire was 60 percent contained Tuesday, and crews expected full containment Sunday.

The Burnt Bread fire about 21 miles southeast of Tonasket was 50 percent contained at 1,300 acres. Crews continued to labor to keep the flames from advancing north into the Okanogan National Forest, where dense stands of beetle-killed timber would provide ready tinder, fire spokeswoman Cindy Reichelt said.

About 200 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. The cause was under investigation.

To the south, the Lick Creek fire near Cle Elum was estimated at about 50 percent containment. The fire, which was believed to have been caused by logging equipment that caught fire Thursday, was at 720 acres.