Firefighters Struggle To Gain Control Of Chelan Complex Fires

Wildfires have destroyed homes in Oregon and Idaho, forced thousands of evacuations throughout the region and left at least 9,000 people without power in Washington. Fire crews are building fire lines around the eastern perimeter of the fire.

Active duty soldiers have been used to fight wildfires 35 times since 1987, the NIFC said.

“We’re working hard to get our feet back on the ground”, Steele said, noting that numerous people who would serve tourists have either had to leave or lost homes.

The north entrance to Crater Lake National Park was closed temporarily Sunday to allow for fireline preparation and burnout operations related to the nearby Crescent Fire.

In Washington state, a fire was moving so quickly that authorities weren’t sure how many homes were lost, but they feared it was roughly 75.

The Chelan fires are just some of the many destructive blazes burning throughout the Northwest. An earlier, larger fire in the same area was fully contained Friday more than two weeks after it broke out.

“It is startling”, one resident Mary Askins, told NBC Bay Area.

The Fisher Fire, burning seven miles north of Craigmont in a steep area of Big Canyon, was started by lightning on Wednesday.

Monday morning, the fire was more than 24,000 acres in size and 70 percent contained.

Cougar Creek fire smoke plume from space The National Weather Service and NOAA released this satellite view of the Cougar Creek fire burning on the south flanks of Mount Adams. Kent Sisson, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

In California’s Angeles National Forest, 10 firefighters were evacuated with minor injuries.

Fires continue to burn around Lake Chelan in central Washington Monday.

A half dozen campgrounds remained evacuated around the fire, which burned four cabins and an outbuilding when it broke out on Friday. There are 360 people assigned to the fire, which is 20 percent contained.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

The Cougar Creek fire was one of many Northwest blazes that were stretching firefighting resources thin, according to the Northwest Coordination Center, which manages interagency firefighting. But when she looked at the hillside surrounding her backyard, all she could see was fire.

Mandatory evacuations and closures remain in place in some affected areas Monday.

The declaration authorizes the state fire marshal to mobilize fire resources from around the state to protect homes.

“It’s not a major loss to the industry”, Riggan said.

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

CalFire said in a statement that as many as 14,000 firefighters were kept busy by almost 18 wildfires across the state.

Light said, for the last couple years, agreements with other local departments have helped with staffing.