Winds were at a stand still Saturday afternoon that helped prevent wildfires from growing and temperatures stalled in the 80’s.
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“I’m feeling a whole lot better than I was three hours ago”, Craig said. “If people want to help, we’d like them to contact our coordinators so we can work on getting them safely and appropriately involved”, said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. The firefighter was transferred Friday night and is listed in satisfactory condition, Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg said Saturday.
Firefighters should get a break in the weather Saturday.
Officials hope that a break in the weather will allow firefighters to contain a series of wildfires in northern Washington that left three firefighters dead, and forced many from their homes. The fire is estimated at more than 50 square miles.
Rogers says the fires are burning only one or a handful of homes at a time, not entire neighborhoods.
Some residents affected by the Okanogan Complex Fire were going to be escorted home Saturday. In all, almost a half million acres have burned in Washington.
Firefighters across the West saw little relief over the weekend as wildfires raged in the drought-stricken region, but for those in Washington, other states will soon provide additional resources.
The Okanogan Complex of wildfires was measured at 374 square miles as of Sunday morning. Infrared mapping found the fires spread by about 19 square miles on Saturday evening. Flory said it was a similar effect to what happens when the flue is opened on a fireplace.
The good news for Sunday is that less smoke means restrictions on air travel will be lifted and more fire tankers can drop water and chemical retardant, Flory said.
Firefighters were gaining some ground against a California wildfire that led to the evacuation of thousands of people and destroyed a lodge in Kings Canyon National Park.
Kevin Slusarski, a U.S. Forest Service information officer assigned to the Rough fire, said burning operations were successful and firefighters want to take advantage of recent light winds. Washington officials say more than 3,000 people have called and emailed in response to the state’s request for volunteer help with wildfires.
More than 2,500 campers, hikers, employees and residents have been evacuated this week.
Nobody was hurt when the Kings Canyon lodge, which bills itself as a folksy getaway for tourists, was burned to its foundation.
More than 275,000 gallons of water have been dropped in an attempt to quell the sixteen large wildfires burning in the Evergreen State, according to the state’s National Guard.
TWISP, Wash. (AP) – The massive cloud of smoke is expected to lift over Washington wildfires on Sunday, but as air quality improves fire behavior could become more erratic and intense, fire officials said.
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The town had made some preparations, including notifying residents that the town’s fire siren would sound for two minutes to signal an evacuation.
