UPDATE: Monday August 29, 2016 10:45 a.m.

On Sunday, firefighters continued to focus efforts on mop-up activities, suppression repair and pulling equipment off the fire lines.

The Wellesley Fire is 100% contained and is expected to stay within its perimeters. The Yale Fire is 99% contained – a 4% percent increase from yesterday with minimal fire activity. Smoke will continue to be visible for several days, however, local fire units continue to patrol and monitor the fire lines.

Additional fire resources, including aviation units, were released on Sunday and will continue to be released throughout Monday to return to their home units or other fires. On Tuesday at 6:00 a.m., operations will officially transfer to local fire districts and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The remainder of Northwest Incident Management Team 11 will be released. Today will be the last update.

There are no evacuations. Please check with the Spokane County Sheriff or Spokane Emergency Management (https://www.spokanecounty.org/1460/Emergency-Management) for the most up-to-date information. We ask that citizens using the roadways continue to be aware of hazards that may be adjacent to the road. For the next few days, we encourage caution on recreational use (for example, bicyclists) of areas roads near the fire due to fire traffic and operations.

Northwest Incident Management Team 11 would like to sincerely thank the public, local agencies and fire districts for their support of the Spokane Complex. 

UPDATE: Sunday August 28, 2016 10:30 a.m.:

A week after the Yale Road fire broke out, fire crews are focusing on mopping up, monitoring the fire for any residual heat, and pulling equipment off the fire lines. State mobilized resources are being moved off the Spokane Complex fires Sunday morning. At last report the Yale Road fire was 95 percent contained.

Saturday's red flag warning was a good test of containment lines. A new fire started south of the Yale incident Saturday afternoon but local crews were able to get it extinguished quickly. 

The fire will be transferred to local fire districts Monday as state resources return home or to other fires in the region.

Valley Chapel Road re-opened at 8 p.m. Saturday. Citizens are asked to remain cautious and be aware of hazards.

UPDATE: Saturday, August 27, 2016 12:00 p.m.:

Containment on the Yale Road Fire, part of the Spokane Complex Fires, has increased Saturday. The fire is now 85 percent contained, a 10 percent increase from Friday. Night shift operations on the fire decreased overnight, while crews continue to focus on mop-up operations such as putting out hot spots and conducting burnout operations to make sure the fire doesn't grow.

Weather is the biggest concern for crews Saturday as a Red Flag warning is in effect. Air support remains available and on standby if needed.

UPDATE: Friday, August 26, 2016 10:00 a.m.:

Fire crews say they made good progress on the Yale Road and Wellesley Fires on Wednesday. 

The Wellesley Fire is 100% contained, but firefighters are still finding heat around structures using handheld infra-red detection devices. The fire is expected to stay within its perimeters. 

Meanwhile, the Yale Road Fire is now 75% contained. Friday's operations will focus on the canyon areas on the southern and northeast perimeters. Smoke columns from unburned islands within the fire footprint may be visible from a distance. Minimal fire activity consuming surface fuels such as grasses and wheat is expected, however slight potential for isolated burning within the perimeter of the fire exists.

A fire weather watch has been issued for Saturday with expected warmer temperatures, a decrease in relative humidity levels and higher wind speeds and gusts are anticipated. 

UPDATE: Thursday, August 25, 2016 11:00 a.m.:

Fire officials say the Yale Road Fire, burning south of Spokane near Valleyford, is 60% contained as of Thursday morning. Evacuation levels have been dropped to Level 1, which mean residents can be in their homes, but should be prepared to leave. So far the Yale Road Fire has burned nearly 5800 acres and destroyed 10 homes. 

The Wellesley Fire, which is part of the Spokane Complex Fire (Yale and Wellesely), is 100% contained. 

UPDATE Wednesday, August 24, 2016 6:30 a.m.

Trooper Jeff Sevigney confirms that after getting an aerial look at the Yale Road Fire with infrared imaging overnight, they now have a better idea at the size of the fire. The fire is currently 50% contained and has burned 6,886 acres.

UPDATE Tuesday, August 23, 2016 8:00 p.m.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office reports that all evacuations for the Yale Road and Wellesley fires have been downgraded to level 1, meaning homeowners will be allowed to return to their homes. The Sheriff's Office encourages those returning for the first time since the evacuation to be aware of their surroundings and survey their property as their landscape may have changed.

Greater Spokane Emergency Management is seeking information from Spokane County residents and businesses that have suffered damage or losses due to the Spokane Complex fires. Damage assessment forms are available for owners, renters and businesses here. 

UPDATE Tuesday, August 23, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

Officials say Level 3 evacuations are still in place for homes within these boundaries: 

North: Washington Rd. to Belair Rd. to Connor Rd., East to Larkin St. and Darknell Rd. To Jackson Rd. (S. of Freeman) to Elder Rd. on South End going West to Valley Chapel Rd. To Stoughton to Weger and back to Washington Rd.

Level 3 means get out now. 

The Freeman area is still under a Level 2 (be ready to leave) evacuation as of Tuesday morning. 

So far, mapping of the fire shows it has burned 3500 - 4000 acres and at least 10 homes have been lost. 

The fire is 0% contained. 

Yale Road Fire UPDATE as of 2:30 p.m., Monday, August 22, 2016:

The Yale Road Fire has flared up significantly in the last hour. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuations for the following areas: 

Level 3 – GO! And Please do not return until told this area is safe. 

North: Washington Rd. to Belair Rd. to Connor Rd., East to Larkin St. and Darknell Rd. To Jackson Rd. (S. of Freeman) to Elder Rd. on South End going West to Valley Chapel Rd. To Stoughton to Weger and back to Washington Rd.

Level 2 – Set, Get ready if Level 3 evacuation is called for

Freeman area. 

Previous Coverage:

Yale Road Fire UPDATE as of 10:30a.m. Monday, August 22, 2016:

An update from the command post at the Yale Road Fire shows that so far at least 10 homes and numerous outbuildings have been lost. No injuries have been reported. No additional structures were lost overnight.  Residents in the area of Elder Road and Valley Chapel Road are under a level 3 evacuation order.  All other area residents should remain vigilant and pay close attention to public safety warnings.  Elder and Valley Chapel Roads remained closed in the area and motorists are advised to stay clear.

So far firefighters say 4,000 acres have burned and it is 0% contained. Firefighters and local farmers worked through the night to fight the fire and additional crews will arrive on Monday. Air support will also be fighting the flames Monday to help those crews on the ground. Firefighters will be focused on providing structure protection and establishing containment lines around the fire today.

Update 8 p.m.: Crews are combining their resources on the Wellesley Fire with the resources fighting the Yale Road Fire. Those two fires are now being referred to as the Spokane Complex Fire.

Update 7:45 p.m.: Washington DNR reports the Yale Road fire burning in the Valleyford area north of Spangle is now an estimated 2,000 acres as of Sunday evening.

Update 6:20 p.m.: The Yale Road fire has burned at least 1,000 acres as of Sunday evening and there's no word yet on containment. Highway 27 has been closed from Dishman Mica to Freeman High School. KHQ Blake Jensen reports homes have burned along Latah Creek Road and homeowners have let animals run free. 

Crews are battling a large brush fire on Yale Road southeast of Spokane and north of Spangle.

Level 3 evacuations were ordered for North of Palouse Highway, south of Cornwall and Valley Chapel, west of Hangman Creek, and east of Highway 27.

Right now we are working to get more information in terms of size, but we have a reporter on the scene of the fire now working to get more info.

We do know that fire crews have called out a 3rd alarm Sunday afternoon to get more resources.

There are some road closures in the area, including Valley Chapel Road and Spangle Creek Road.