WENATCHEE — Residents of three homes on Westview Drive were asked to leave their homes at 5:30 a.m. as the Canyons Fire flared up at the western edge of Wenatchee.

Flames could be seen shooting up the hillside toward the homes.

A line of fire trucks from western Washington — with lights and sirens going — raced up Springwater Avenue to stage at homes below the flare-up.

Three large fires burning in the western foothills have burned together and now total more than 1,000 acres that are billowing smoke into the valley.

As of 8 a.m. today, 290 homes in the Wenatchee area had received some level of evacuation notice, said John Kruse, a fire spokesman. Of those, 68 were on Level 3 evacuation, meaning residents should leave their homes.

Of the 68 homes under Level 3 notice, 40 are up No. 1 Canyon, 27 are in the Westview and Westwick roads area, and one is up No. 2 Canyon, Kruse said.

Robin DeMario, a fire spokeswoman, said winds died down over night, which means the fire activity has changed from wind-driven to topography-driven, DeMario said. The fire now will tend to move uphill as it dries out vegetation above where it is actually burning. Fire could also start below an active fire if debris rolls downhill.

As of 7 a.m. today, the only buildings burned was an outbuilding near the Canyons Fire a few days ago, and an outbuilding on Johnson Ridge around 2 a.m. this morning Monday. That area is part of the Byrd Fire, which has burned more than 9,000 acres north of Entiat. All residents between the Knapps Hill Tunnel and Davis Canyon are under a mandatory evacuation.

Residents of the Wenatchee Valley should expect smoke to continue to settle in the lowlands for the next several days, said Greg Koch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane.

That's because winds have died down. They are expected to be blowing only 5 to 10 miles mph this morning and then diminishing to less than 5 mph, he said. "The area will also be experiencing chilly nights, which generally means a strong inversion, which traps smoke," he said. "Tonight and tomorrow could be pretty smoky in your area."

Lows tonight will be in the 40s, he said. Highs today will be about 70 degrees, and 75 on Wednesday.

Air quality levels in the Wenatchee area were at unhealthy levels this morning, according to a press release from the Chelan-Douglas Health District. People with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly and children should avoid prolonged exertion. All others should limit prolonged exertion. Windows should be kept closed.