Share

Wildfires scorching up western US from Washington to California

In Washington state, the fires have charred 155 square miles (401 square km) and caused 1,500 to flee their homes.

Advertisement

Blazes have ruined homes, shut down power, charred buildings and spurred many to evacuate.

Every available wildfire crew, engine and aircraft is committed to a fire, a spokeswoman for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said Sunday. Almost 500 firefighters were battling the massive Soda Fire, and authorities said they hoped to have it contained within three to five days.

Officials said more than 50 structures have been destroyed and the number is likely to go higher.

As he surveyed the smoldering remains of his home of 53 years, he told Oregon Public Broadcasting: “You could have put all the water you had on this”.

The largest, the Wolverine fire that’s burning near Holden Village, is 30 percent contained.

In California’s Angeles National Forest, 10 firefighters were evacuated with minor injuries as a spate of fires raced across the state.

As our firefighters return from the horrific fires to the north, they remark that the conditions that we have in Marin – steep slopes and dense vegetation along narrow, winding roads, coupled with the close proximity of structures to the wildland areas – are worse than they experienced while engaged in these large-scale incidents.

19 major fires burning in dry, drought-stricken California.

Another blaze, the Mad River Complex, comprises seven fires that started last month after a lightning storm hit northern California.

A 70-year-old woman was killed when she fell while preparing to flee from the wildfire, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Department said Saturday.

“There are challenges getting immediate assessments due to the inaccessibility caused by burnt out wooden creosote bridges, rolling rocks, and hazard trees”, state fire marshal officials said in a statement.

The Cougar Creek Fire is burning near the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams in Washington.

The Reach fire is estimated at 2,000 acres, and several other smaller fires are included in the Reach Complex. The fires remain uncontained, she said. It is 20 percent contained.

Crews battling the wind-stoked blaze took advantage of cooler temperatures Thursday to clear brush and expand containment lines with bulldozers and hand tools. It was 82 percent contained by Sunday. The blaze destroyed 43 homes.

The Municipal Fire, started by lightning Friday afternoon, has burned over 800 acres near Orofino and destroyed at least two homes and multiple outbuildings. “Yesterday the fire was helping us and made a run to the north and burned into the Rocky Fire for the most part”.

Wildfires also raged elsewhere in central and eastern Washington, closing popular trails and campgrounds, burning down homes and forcing more evacuations.

Advertisement

The Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit says nine fires were ignited Saturday.

Fire spokesman Brian Lawatch on duty at base camp for the Reach Complex firefighting operation near Chelan Washington