Federal Wildfire Resources Arrive in Washington State

Wildfires across the drought-plagued western US states have led residents to flee their homes as authorities scramble for resources to beat back the flames.

“We give continued thanks to all the volunteers and firefighters working hard to fight these fires and protect our families”, Inslee said via Facebook.

The Okanogan Complex of fires has burned more than 375 square miles.

The state has already asked for assistance.

Local officials in Okanogan have downgraded some evacuation notices, allowing some people to return to their homes, but thousands still remain under evacuation.

As firefighters battle massive blazes in Okanogan County in northern Washington state, some residents are being forced to reassess what they hold dear. “We appreciate all offers of qualified and trained support”.

In California, more than 12,000 firefighters are battling 17 wildfires across the state. Firefighters focused on defending Hume Lake Christian Camps on Saturday. Because it’s going to be long, we’re not anywhere close to having anything wrapped up, so stay safe, keep focused.

“I’m very connected to the people and the community here”, he told KOMO.

Nobody was hurt when the Kings Canyon lodge, which bills itself as a folksy getaway for tourists, was burned to its foundation. No injuries were reported.

The Okanogan Complex of wildfires has surpassed last year’s Carlton Complex blazes, fire spokesman Rick Isaacson said Monday morning.

However, has been minimal growth on this fire Saturday and most of the growth has been to the east. It had been contained about a third.

In San Luis Obispo County, about 800 people returned to their homes after firefighters stopped the growth of a wildfire that had charred more than 5 square miles.

The Washington National Guard will be joined by 200 more Guardsmen, bringing their total number to 700. Fire officials over the weekend began providing basic fire training to volunteers who have machinery like backhoes and bulldozers so they can help dig fire lines.

The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert for Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

The action is being taken as a precaution due to the unpredictability of the fire in the area, and the potential difficulty of evacuating quickly, officials said. They recommend limiting time outdoors and avoiding strenuous activity.

Further evacuations were ordered on Friday around Nespelem, a tiny settlement in the interior of the Colville Reservation, where homes and businesses were threatened by a separate blaze that has blackened some 88,000 acres of tribal lands.

Isaacson called the record unfortunate and notes it’s only August . 24, meaning the fire could burn for several more months. Wildfires have scored thousands of acres in western Montana.

“With erratic wind conditions and extremely dry fuels, our firefighters need every available resource to manage current fires and respond to new ones”.

The smoke prompted Environment Canada to issue a smoke advisory for the enitre Okanagan Valley, north and South Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and southern areas of the Boundary and Kootenay regions.