In its most active day since sparking from a lightning strike on Sept. 1, the Labor Mountain Fire on the Cle Elum Ranger District expanded by an incredible 8,000 acres on Thursday.

The massive growth was the result of a blustery conditions that occurred under a Red Flag Warning over the entire fire zone, and pushed the fire to an newly-estimated size of 25,327 acres with 7% containment.

The rapacious winds fanned the flames of the fire primarily to the east, where it easily jumped containment lines and crossed to the east side of U.S. Highway 97 (US-97), which saw a 27-mile stretch of the road over Blewett Pass closed for the fifth straight day.

The rapid escalation of the blaze also prompted elevated evacuations in several areas, including Level 3 "Leave Now!" notices for the communiti

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