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Posted: Wednesday, 22 August 2012 5:37AM

Containment Increases In California, Washington Wildfires



CLE ELUM, Wash.  (Metro)  -- More progress is being made on major wildfires in California and Washington state. 

In Washington, the Taylor Bridge Fire near Cle Elum is now 90 percent contained. 

The blaze has charred over 20,000 acres. 

Over a thousand firefighters involved in the battle say they hope to have the fire fully contained by Friday. 

The southeast portion of the fire was contained over the weekend but there have been flareups in the northern part of the wildfire zone. 

In northern California, the Ponderosa Fire is now 40 percent contained. 

The inferno has blackened more than 21,000, 500 acres and 50 structures have been destroyed. 

The California Department of Forestry and Fire protection says some 200 homes, ten commercial properties and 30 outbuildings are still threatened.

In Idaho, Governor Butch Otter was to take a helicopter tour of the wildfires lighting up the southwest part of the state. 

The tour was to include the Trinity Ridge Fire which has grown to nearly 95,000 acres near Featherville and the Halstead Fire which has torched close to 94,000 acres near Stanley. 

A red flag warning was issued for both of those fires Tuesday because of erratic winds, thunderstorms and lightning.

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