PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
Firefighters are hoping for calmer winds Wednesday as they battle the Taylor Bridge fire that began Monday in central Washington near the town of Cle Elum.
The fire, now at 28,000 acres, has destroyed 70 homes and perhaps hundreds of outbuildings. Nine hundred people have been affected by evacuations.
Fortunately, no one has died in the fire, but the fire has not been as kind to animals. It's estimated that at least 100 farm animals have died; some are now being sheltered at the Ellensberg Rodeo Grounds.
A chimp sanctuary in the area that had been threatened earlier in the week is safe.
About 800 firefighters, including 145 prison inmates, are working to contain the fire, which is only 10 percent contained. Even homeowners got out their own tools to try to build containment lines around their homes.
The fire started Monday at a construction site and exploded, fueled by dry terrain, high winds and high temperatures.
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