Central Washington鈥檚 deadly Chelan Hills wildfire was 100% contained by noon Friday, almost a week after investigators say a person started the roughly 15-square-mile blaze.
The flames 鈥 鈥 spread rapidly north and across the hillsides of Orondo, an unincorporated community in Douglas County. Hundreds of residents were ordered to evacuate immediately Saturday as state and local firefighters responded to the fire, which burned down at least 19 homes before it was contained, authorities said.
At least one person died in the fire, which was first spotted burning on the east side of the Columbia River near Highway 97, just southeast of Chelan Falls Park. Douglas County deputies searching for a missing resident on Sunday . The county coroner鈥檚 office has not yet identified the person, whose remains were sent to a state anthropology lab for DNA testing.
County officials on Thursday to anyone who can provide information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of whoever started the fire.
Investigators collected evidence at the fire鈥檚 origin , Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille said Wednesday. He declined to say more, citing the active investigation.
Douglas County officials on Friday announced they had related to the fire, and published a on their website.
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