A round a gusty winds fanned both the flames of the Lower Sugarloaf Fire and the concerns of residents in its potential path on Sunday, as evacuation levels connected to blaze elevated in several areas.

The fire was sparked by a lightning strike on Aug. 31 about 12 miles east of Leavenworth on the Wenatchee River Ranger District in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and is currently listed at 28,387 acres with 22% containment.

The containment lines that firefighters have built over the past three weeks were heavily tested during Sunday's brisk winds, which ignited numerous spot fires on the blaze's eastern perimeter in the areas of Roaring Creek and Miner's Creek that crews had to quickly extinguish.

Firefighters also worked to hold and strengthen fire lines on the blaze's northern

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