Area media reported that the heavy smoke blowing into Kootenai County on Sunday was coming from the Spokane and eastern Washington area.

By late afternoon, owners of homes in the sparsely populated fire area were being urged to evacuate immediately. High winds from a powerful cold front spread the blaze rapidly.

A large brush fire burned south of Spokane, forcing evacuations in the Spangle area. Fire districts, the Bureau of Land Management and other agenecies were working to put out the flames.

Homes were burned in the area, and some residents let their animals run free late Sunday evening as the fire had already consumed 2,000 acres.

A 150-acre fire threatened multiple neighborhoods south of Bigelow Gulch and west of Thierman Road near Beacon Hill in Spokane. More than 30 crews were on scene Sunday afternoon, working to put out the fire.

Level-three evacuations were also issued for the Lincoln County area due to a wildfire in the vicinity of the 3-mile area North East of State Route 25 and Hart Road. The area is between the city of Davenport and south of Fort Spokane and the Columbia River.

Lincoln County officials said the fire was burning out of control Sunday afternoon.