Firefighters battling blaze in Steptoe Canyon near Colton

Washington state and local firefighters are working to contain a fire in Steptoe Canyon near Colton that ignited about 2:15 a.m. Thursday and is currently estimated at 500 acres and growing.

The fire is burning in grass and brush and Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 6 a.m. today at the request of Whitman County Fire Chief Jay Reisenauer, according to a news release.