QUINCY — A fire that broke out Wednesday night between Quincy and Ephrata has scorched at least 5,000 acres so far. At least two homes were destroyed. A cause for the fire has not been determined.

Firefighters with Grant County Fire District No. 3 responded to the fire Wednesday night in the Monument Hill area, between Quincy and Ephrata, after a caller reported seeing smoke in the area. Strong winds prompted GCFD No. 3 to request mutual aid and help was gained from fire districts in Grant, Douglas and Chelan counties, as well as the Bureau of Land Management, according to Monument Hill Fire Public Information Officer Megan Hill.

Level 3 evacuation notices, which indicate people are in immediate danger, were sent out for several areas by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office late Wednesday night. The notices were dropped to a Level 1 early Thursday morning as crews were able to control the fire.

State assistance to help combat the fire was granted and six wildland strike teams were ordered and responded to the scene. One hundred personnel were working at the scene Thursday.

“A large column of smoke could be seen today (Thursday) as winds switched directions in the morning and ignited some unburned fuels in the north edge of the fire. Firefighters continued an extended attack on that section of the fire, and fire managers called in two firefighting airplanes and two helicopters to help put out those flames,” Hill said.

The fire destroyed several power poles, with Grant County PUD working around the clock to restore power to the affected areas. Hill said Road 13 Northwest, east of North Adams Road, was closed throughout the day on Thursday because of several burned power poles and the PUD working to restore power.

“There were no injuries, We lost two houses, at least. So we are still investigating and finding things. But I can confirm two residences for sure,” Hill stated.

In addition to the houses, multiple outbuildings, vehicles and farm equipment was destroyed. Up-to-date mapping shows the fire has burned 5,000 acres and was 40 percent contained as of the Columbia Basin Herald’s press time on Thursday.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.