Published: August 21,2015
"We have lost them, but I don't know how many. We've got no idea," said Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers.
The Okanogan County Emergency Management department called for the immediate evacuation of areas near Okanogan around 2 a.m. PDT. The evacuation orders were for the northwestern part of town, the department told the Associated Press. It wasn't immediately clear how many people were impacted by the evacuation order.
Previously, near the same area, evacuation orders for the 1,000-resident town of Tonasket were issued. Fire officials say strong winds are complicating their efforts.
The situation in Washington has become so dire, the Colorado National Guard is sending assistance in the form of two crews and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on Saturday. During a federally- or governor-declared emergency, states are allowed to lend a helping hand to other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a national mutual aid partnership agreement.
"Supporting our neighbors in need goes to the core of what your National Guard is all about. It makes us proud to be flexible enough to provide such a fast response during a time of critical need," Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, the Adjutant General of Colorado, said in a press release.
(MORE: Additional Information on the Firefighter Deaths)
Wednesday evening, a sheriff in north-central Washington said three firefighters were killed and four more were injured in raging wildfires.
Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers confirmed the deaths in a wildfire near Twisp on Wednesday evening. The Forest Service identified the fallen firefighters as Tom Zbyszewski, 20; Andrew Zajac, 26; and Richard Wheeler, 31. Their vehicle flipped during a firefight and flames overcame them before they could escape.
Overnight Wednesday, the Twisp fire exploded in size, according to local reports.
Obama on Friday declared an emergency and authorized the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
The order covers 11 counties in central and eastern Washington as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation.
More than 7 million acres have burned in wildfires this year – an area roughly the size of Massachusetts – according to the National Interagency Fire Center. That's nearly double the 10-year average of about 4.48 million acres through Aug. 20.
There are currently dozens of large wildfires burning across the West; here's an update on a few of them.
Idaho
Evacuations have been ordered in northern Idaho as a group of wildfires that has already destroyed 42 homes threatened more residences on Friday. Nearly 800 firefighters were trying to beat back the flames.Idaho had 17 large fires - the most in the nation.
Fire managers told residents near the town of Weippe to flee the fires that have scorched 63 square miles of mostly timber.
(MORE: California's Giant Sequoia at Risk?)
Oregon
Firefighters working in a remote section of northeastern Oregon are trying to protect homes from a rapidly expanding wildfire that destroyed three homes as it quadrupled in size in 24 hours.Fire crews said the blaze burning on both sides of the border with Washington grew to 75 square miles, up from 19 a day before.
The state fire marshal's office says the fire threatens more than 100 homes and a school. The unincorporated community of Troy, Oregon, was evacuated, along with nearby homes.
Meanwhile, some of the 900 people battling large blaze south of John Day were diverted to contain a new fire burning further east.
California
More than 12,000 firefighters are battling 17 wildfires across California.A fire that has burned for nearly three weeks on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada grew to 60 square miles near Kings Canyon National Park and was bearing down on popular Hume Lake.
Fresno County declared a state of emergency in response to the Rough Fire.
Fresno County declares a state of emergency for Rough Wild Fire near Hume Lake. We will be asking for more resources
More than 2,500 campers, hikers, employees and residents have been evacuated this week.
Montana
Officials were worried that high winds and possible thunderstorms expected Friday in western Montana could exacerbate a wildfire approaching a town near Glacier National Park.The conditions could force some 100 residents of Essex to evacuate. A nearby 55-mile stretch of highway and rail corridor has been closed.
Near the Idaho border, residents of about 50 homes have been ordered to leave and those in neighboring areas were told to get ready to flee.
Colorado
Smoke from wildfires led Colorado officials to expand a health advisory to the northern half of the state. The heavily populated Denver-Fort Collins area was included in the advisory.The National Weather Service warned that wildfire danger was high in northwest Colorado because of gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation. Crews were monitoring two small wildfires caused by lightning.
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