Wildfire in Washington state forces monastery evacuation.

From the blog Xenia Kathryn...

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Update: This afternoon I received an official report that the nuns returned to the monastery today. The buildings have all been preserved from fire. The sisters are working hard to put out many smoldering piles of embers around the grounds. The fire is still burning and dangerous for other residents of the area, though the danger at the monastery is not so imminent. Nevertheless, the sisters are watchful and prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice, should conditions change. They are giving thanks to God and the Most Holy Theotokos on her feast day, for preserving their monastery. Many people traveling on Hwy 97 yesterday stopped and helped fight the fire yesterday. The sisters are overcome with thankfulness for all of these strangers and all of the friends of the monastery who prayed. Please continue to pray for the firefighters and families whose homes continue to be in danger.

Please pray for the sisters at St. John the Forerunner Monastery in Goldendale, WA! There was a wildfire that forced them to evacuate the grounds, leaving behind their buildings including a recently completed dormitory that many of the nuns worked diligently to raise funds for and build themselves.

Gerontissa Efpraxia and the sisters always pray for us who live in the world, and many in our church community have sisters and daughters, not to mention close friends, who live there as monastics. May we pray for them, as well!

Lord have mercy. Today is the feast day of the Nativity of the Theotokos-- may she intercede to Christ on their behalf!

(KOIN) - A wildfire just north of Goldendale, Wash., closed the north-south Highway 97 and threatened structures Wednesday afternoon, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WSDNR).

The 1,100-acre blaze about 15 miles from the Columbia River Gorge is burning close or within the Brooks Memorial State Park.

Providing fire updates via Twitter, WSDNR said at least eight aircraft--in addition to ground crews--are fighting the fire.

The Klickitat County Sheriff's Office said there are 38 mandatory evacuations in place for residents north of Box Canyon Road and another 21 on alert for possible evacuation.

Washington State Department of Transportation announced Highway 97 closed before 2 p.m. and reopened to intermittent traffic at about 8:30 p.m.

Evacuees were told they could report to Klickitat County Fairgrounds for assistance and resources from American Red Cross.

WSDNR named the blaze the Monastery fire.