2 wildfires burning near Grand Coulee, Elmer City

GRAND COULEE, Wash. -- Authorities are telling people in Grand Coulee and Elmer City to be on alert as two wildfires are burning on both sides of the Columbia River.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office says one of the wildfires is burning on the west side of the Columbia River near Grand Coulee.

Sheriff's spokesman Kyle Foreman said Monday the edge of that blaze is about one-half mile from the Grand Coulee Dam. The fire started Sunday afternoon and had scorched about 500 acres as of Sunday night.

He says state resources have been called in to help manage the fire.

KXLY reports that another fire is burning near Elmer City in Okanogan County, about five miles north of Coulee Dam.

Several roads in the area have been closed.