Washington State Wildfires Fire Grow by 100 Square Miles
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A series of wildfires in north-central Washington state that left three firefighters dead grew by more than 100 square miles (260 square kilometers), but officials hope easing winds forecast will allow them to gain the upper hand.
The Okanogan Complex of wildfires was measured at 355 square miles (919 square kilometers) Saturday, about 100 square miles (260 square kilometers) larger than Friday, fire spokesman Rick Isaacson said.
Thousands of people in towns across north-central Washington state remained under evacuation orders as strong winds drove flames across parched ground late this week. Resources were so strained that Saturday fire officials planned to provide basic fire training to about 200 volunteers who have machinery like backhoes and bulldozers so they can use them to help dig fire lines, The Associated Press reported.
Power outages affected several areas, making it more difficult to notify residents about evacuation orders, and the overall situation was too chaotic to even track how many homes had burned - though officials hoped to make progress on that front Saturday.
Three firefighters - Tom Zbyszewski, Richard Wheeler and Andrew Zajac - died Wednesday when flames consumed their crashed vehicle in Washington state. Four others were injured in the canyon, one critically. But their firefighting brothers and sisters had little time to mourn as raging fires forced entire communities to flee their homes 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) away.
As conditions worsened, emergency officials ordered evacuations in Okanogan, with 2,500 residents, as well as Tonasket, a community of 1,000 people, and its surrounding area. Officials also began a Spanish-language effort, on social media as well as in printed fliers, to get fire information to immigrant orchard workers.
Not everyone who was told to leave was willing to go.
"I've been up for like 40 hours, and I was very nervous, very concerned because (the fire) was going to take everything we have, us and the rest of our friends," said Al Dodson, who stayed home despite evacuation orders in Twisp, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Okanogan.
Winds blew at 35 mph (56 kph) or more late in the week, but those were expected to ease to 8 to 12 mph (13 to 19 kph) overnight and Saturday, fire spokeswoman Cindy Neff said.
Nearly 29,000 firefighters - 3,000 of them in Washington state - are battling some 100 large blazes across the drought-and heat-stricken West, including Idaho, Oregon, Montana and California. Thirteen people have died.
There are more firefighters on the ground this season than ever before, and the US government is spending more than $150 million a week on fire suppression, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
It's not enough. Additional personnel and equipment were being brought in from abroad.
In addition, President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration authorizing federal help for 11 Washington state counties and four Native American tribes.
The three firefighters who died were based in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, forest spokeswoman Carrie McCausland said. They belonged to specialized crews that immediately assess fire scenes and report back to commanders.
The crews were in the canyon in two vehicles and on foot when the flames raced toward them. One vehicle made it out safely, but the other, carrying the three firefighters who were killed, crashed. The four firefighters who were injured were among those who fled on foot, Rogers said.