Firefighters get upper hand on Clark County wildfire

NEAR CAMAS, Wash. - A wildfire that erupted Sunday night in Clark County isn't out, but firefighters are getting it under control.

The fire is burning on the Clark and Skamania County borders in the Yacolt Burn State Forest, about 10 miles north of Camas.

Helicopters began dumping water on the flames at daylight on Monday and ground crews surrounded the fire on the steep, forested hillside. Fanned by gusty east winds, flames filled the Boulder Creek alley with choking smoke.

No homes were ever in danger of burning - the closest ones were about three miles away - but the blaze did burn about 60 acres.

Investigators don't know yet what caused the fire. And while there hasn't been a fire at this spot in decades, people who live there say they are always on the lookout.

Firefighters expected to have the blaze contained by 7 p.m. on Monday.