Western Wildfires Update: Officials Fear Washington Fires Could Merge

Associated Press
Published: August 26,2015

With more than 1,000 firefighters – some from other countries – battling a complex of blazes in north-central Washington, officials fear more bad news is coming.
Two of the multiple large wildfires burning in the Okanogan Complex of fires could merge in the next few days, KIRO-TV reported. The fires have burned more than 400 square miles of land in north-central Washington, according to InciWeb.
The complex of fires is just 10 percent contained, but help has come from all over as crews work to get them under control.
Chris Arnol, international liaison for Australia and New Zealand firefighters, said the crews are happy to help and well equipped to handle the rugged terrain in the Pacific Northwest. "They've been requested specifically for this type of terrain and this type of vegetation, and that's what their skill sets are aligned to," he said.
In addition, the Washington Department of Natural Resources issued a call for volunteers, hoping for former firefighters or heavy equipment operators who can bulldoze fire lines. Nearly 4,000 volunteers have answered the call, but only about 200 people with the right experience have been cleared to work.
At more than 256,000 acres, the Okanogan Complex of fires has surpassed last year's Carlton Complex wildfires as the biggest blaze in Washington's recorded history. That's nearly three times the size of Seattle.

Smoke from wildfires burning east of the Cascade Range hurt air quality Wednesday and hampered the efforts of crews battling the flames.

Helicopters and airplanes that had been fighting the fires were grounded by the smoke, and air quality was rated as unhealthy for some people in Spokane County, which has nearly 500,000 residents.

So far, officials have counted 40 homes and 40 outbuildings destroyed by the blaze, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said. The fire is about 17 percent contained by more than 1,300 firefighters.

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More than 7.5 million acres have burned in wildfires this year – an area roughly the size of Massachusetts – according to the National Interagency Fire Center. That's well above the 10-year average of about 5.3 million acres through Aug. 25.
There are currently dozens of large wildfires burning across the West; here's an update on a few of them.

California

Nearly 200 firefighters have been treated for allergic reactions to poison oak while battling a stubborn blaze that has charred more than 5 square miles of dry brush on California's Central Coast, a fire official said Tuesday.
The dreaded plant is intertwined with chaparral and is so ubiquitous in the steep wilderness of San Luis Obispo County that crews can't avoid it, said Bennett Milloy, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
"The vegetation is so thick it's almost a jungle-like environment, and the poison oak is all wrapped up in it," he said. "In some places, it's 12 feet high."
(MORE: California's Giant Sequoia at Risk?)

Milloy, who suffered an outbreak himself, said at least 190 firefighters have been treated — but many more likely haven't reported their itchy, oozing symptoms. Several patients had reactions so severe that they required steroid injections, he said.
More than 1,300 personnel are on the scene of the blaze near the town of Santa Margarita. The fire, sparked Aug. 16, is 90 percent contained.
None of the 16 wildfires burning around California is posing serious danger of destruction or fast spread — but that could change this week.
A heating trend with decreased humidity is set to begin and likely will peak Thursday and Friday. With it could come thunderstorms and lightning to inland areas where some of the main fires were burning, the National Weather Service said.
Schools were closed for a second day in the Southern California mountain community where crews battled a small but smoky wildfire burning through timber near a popular ski resort. Firefighters held the blaze in Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains to 100 acres. It was 30 percent contained.
To the northeast, crews made headway against a huge wildfire burning for nearly a month in the Sierra foothills east of Fresno. The 83-square-mile blaze was 21 percent contained.
Fresno County supervisors on Tuesday approved a proclamation requesting emergency funding from Gov. Jerry Brown for help with costs to fight the stubborn fire.

Idaho

Residents along U.S. Highway 95 in west-central Idaho including those living in the town of Riggins have been told to be ready to evacuate Wednesday due to a wildfire that's on the move.
Fire managers say the size of the fire grew to 29 square miles — a 5-square-mile increase from Tuesday — with extreme fire behavior that included sustained runs through tree crowns and long-range spotting.
Officials say winds up to 20 mph and hot conditions will make firefighting difficult Wednesday.
A group of fires in northern Idaho near Kamiah remained at 74 square miles as crews work to strengthen lines against the blazes that have destroyed 42 homes.
Sixteen large fires are burning in Idaho, the National Interagency Fire Center says.

Oregon

Two portable smoke monitors have arrived in Eastern Oregon, giving officials a more accurate reading of air quality near the Canyon Creek complex of wildfires.

One of the monitors was placed in Prairie City, which was very smoky Monday. The other will be put in Seneca.

Firefighters battling the blaze spent Monday patrolling, improving and holding control lines. Officials say crews are positioned to protect homes in the residential areas of Upper Pine Creek and Upper Dog Creek.

Along the southeastern portion of the fire, crews used existing roads and trails to strengthen lines in preparation for a burnout operation. That is expected to slow the progress of the blaze and corral it into the Strawberry Wilderness.

The wildfire has destroyed more than three dozen homes. It has scorched 114 square miles and is about 30 percent contained.

Montana

A wildfire that started in the Benchmark area about 30 miles west of Augusta led to the evacuation of recreational cabins in the Lewis and Clark National Forest.
The fire was reported early Tuesday afternoon. Ground crews began initial attack on the fire, but had to withdraw for safety reasons after the fire made several runs in the crowns of trees.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton says deputies evacuated about 10 cabins along the Benchmark Road. Residents were allowed to retrieve items from their cabins, but there is a roadblock to keep non-residents out. There are about 48 cabins in the area along with a guest ranch, Forest Service campgrounds and an administrative site.
The fire was estimated at about 30 acres on Tuesday evening.