Rain overnight came to the aid of firefighters at a wildfire in Washington state that prompted an evacuation order for dozens of homes.

Lincoln County sheriff's deputy Scott Blomgren said the rain early Wednesday should help in the battle against the fire, which has burned more than 24 square miles in a sparsely populated region in eastern Washington.

Earlier, fire spokesman Mark Morrow said a "level-three" evacuation order was issued in the Hawk Creek Ranch area, about 10 miles northwest of Davenport. Nearly 50 homes were in the evacuation area.

A level-three order _ the highest level _ means residents should leave immediately, because rescuers likely wouldn't be able to reach them if the situation worsened.

No injuries were reported. About 390 firefighters and support personnel were on the scene, Morrow said.

The fire began southeast of Creston, Wash., on Monday. The cause had not been determined but Morrow said lightning was a likely suspect. The blaze was burning mostly in grass and sagebrush.

It destroyed an abandoned farmhouse and temporarily closed two highways Monday night.