Hundreds of firefighters using planes, helicopters, bulldozers and hand tools have managed to contain 25 percent of a central Washington wildfire that has destroyed dozens of homes across about 35 square miles.

The containment figure announced Wednesday evening is up from the previous 10 percent.

Fire spokesman Glenn Kohler says officials ordered more evacuations late Wednesday on the Taylor Bridge Fire's north flank. He didn't know how many people were affected. Hundreds have left their homes.

The fire that started Monday has scorched more than 22,000 acres. More than 800 people are working to suppress it.

Authorities say at least 60 primary residences have been destroyed, but conditions are still too dangerous to come up with an exact count.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Hundreds of firefighters employed every weapon they had Wednesday to battle a stubborn wildfire east of the Cascades that has destroyed dozens of homes across roughly 34 square miles.

Helicopters made regular drops of water on hot spots. Firefighters dug lines with hand tools and bulldozers and cleared wood piles and dry brush from around homes to protect them.

And at the fire's troublesome north flank, where massive plumes of smoke soared skyward, heavy tankers repeatedly dropped retardant on thick stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir - some of the heavy timber fire crews had hoped to keep the fire from reaching.

Retirees Dave and Jan Stambaugh eyed the massive fire behind their home warily Wednesday, as they loaded treasured artwork into their cars.

"It's one thing about the house, but my yard, oh my garden," Stambaugh said, pointing to her lush new landscaping with ponds, shrubs, stepping stones and a putting green. "Do you think it'll make it?"

Next door, 81-year-old Joanne Blanchard wondered the same thing after stuffing her trunk with photo albums.

The Taylor Bridge Fire has burned across about 22,000 acres of tinder-dry grass, sagebrush and timber in rural communities east of Cle Elum, about 75 miles east of Seattle.

The acreage estimate was down from earlier estimates of about 28,000 acres, according to incident commander Rex Reed. Reed also said conditions were still too dangerous to get an exact count on the number of homes burned, but confirmed at least 60 homes had been destroyed.

The Kittitas County sheriff also has said that at least 10 additional homes had burned in a subdivision on the southeast corner of the blaze.

"Frankly it's not safe yet to get to the interior of the fire," Reed said.

The fire was still just 10 percent contained, but crews hoped to more than double that by Wednesday evening.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated in the rural community on the east side of the Cascades, about 75 miles east of Seattle.

No injuries have been reported.

Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a state of emergency for Kittitas and Yakima counties in response to the blaze. That provided air support from the Washington National Guard.

Fire crews also are keeping a wary eye on weather conditions later in the week, with hotter, drier conditions Thursday and Friday and the possibility of lightning and new fire starts Saturday.

Meanwhile, a brush fire not far from Grand Coulee Dam in Eastern Washington had burned about 6 square miles and an old barn outside of Elmer City.

Cathy Moses of the Colville Tribe said the fire is threatening nine structures near the town near Grand Coulee Dam. The fire broke out Tuesday evening and has closed Highway 155 near Elmer City. No cause has been found.

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Associated Press photographer Elaine Thompson contributed to this report.