Case Western Reserve University graduate among victims of Wash. State wildfires

“Smoke serves as a cap on the fire”.

Fire officials in Washington state say a complex of wildfires burning in north-central Washington is about 10 percent contained. All three were from specialized crews that go into risky areas as fast as they can to examine a scene and report back to commanders on what needs to be done, said Bill Queen, a firefighting spokesman. Visibility and air quality improved Sunday. Resources were so strained that Saturday, fire officials planned to provide basic fire training to about 200 volunteers who have machinery like backhoes and bulldozers so they can use them to help dig fire lines.

A tree is engulfed in flames during a controlled burn near a fire line outside of Okanogan, Wash., on Saturday, August 22, 2015.

The National Interagency Fire Center said Australia and New Zealand have been key partners with the U.S. fire community for more than 50 years but were last mobilized in 2008 when severe fire activity was similar to this year. “Around the camps, you see a lot of children and grandchildren of some of our older firefighters”. Thousands remain under evacuation notices. Sarah Miller, a spokeswoman with Okanogan County Emergency Management, says residents have been warned to stay ready to leave at any time and to not drive around looking at the fires.

“He fell in love with that and decided he wanted to make it his career”, Coleman Campbell said.

Brad Craig of Omak was told to evacuate on Wednesday, but he kept coming back to check on his home.

“He would call me every day and always tell me not to worry, things are fine”, she said. “I shouldn’t be, but I am – and that’s what matters”. Surgeon estimates he lost more than $100,000 worth of property, including his shop, his motorcycle, several cars, a travel trailer and all of his tools.

The situation, says US Rep. Mike Simpson (R) of Idaho, “has created a devastating cycle that prevents agencies from doing needed hazardous fuels removal or timber harvests, leading to worse fires”. “Everything else can be replaced”.

Authorities have released the names of the three firefighters who were killed when they were overrun by flames in Washington state. A fourth injured firefighter is being treated at a hospital in Seattle. The Weather Service in Spokane said a red flag warning for critical fire conditions would be in effect from Sunday afternoon to Monday night.

Gov. Kate Brown is activating an additional 250 Oregon National Guard members to help fight destructive wildfires raging across the state. The base will be the staging area for 20 large fire engines and 10 water takers and will be run by a team from San Diego.

The new firefighting resources came one day after the Obama administration approved Washington governor Jay Inslee’s request for a federal emergency declaration to help firefighting efforts in the eastern part of the state.

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.

Evacuations have been ordered in northern Idaho as a group of wildfires that has already destroyed 42 homes threatened more residences Friday.

As of 5 PM Saturday, the five fires in the Okanogan Complex covered more than 227,000 acres – primarily due to Friday’s expansion to the south on the Tunk Block fire, fanned by strong winds blowing north to south.

Blankinship reported from Seattle.