More crews mobilizing to fight large fires in Chelan area

CNN reported that in Chelan, a town populated by about 4,000 people, four fires have been reported to happen, burning an estimate of 100 structures including cabins and homes, according to the Chelan County Emergency Management.

The fire began as five separate blazes on Friday after a series of lightning strikes.

The Canyon Creek Complex fire has burned more than 34,000 acres. “We are proud to be sending our dedicated crews from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service to pitch in and help out fellow states under this cooperative agreement that has been in place since 1985”.

For now, Smillie said, they would make do with the crew of firefighters assembled from the DNR, Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Yakima Nation, as well as some private contractors. Federal funds will be available to cover 75 percent of Washington’s firefighting costs for the Reach complex, Okanogan County and Stevens County fires, as well as the Stickpin fire in Ferry County.

Large fires are burning in western Montana forests and grasslands, sending up heavy smoke.

They are among 14 wildfires in California being fought by about 12,000 firefighters, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Today firefighters will be working to protect structures and infrastructure, as well as assessing opportunities for perimeter control on the north and south flanks of the fire.

The Cornet Fire is burning through grass, brush and timber roughly 16 miles south of Baker City.

The haze over Sheridan that obscured the Big Horn Mountains on Sunday morning was from fires burning in other states, not from the Sheep Creek Fire. Its rapid growth led to the evacuation of a dozen nearby cabins, most of which are second homes.

To the west of Hamilton, crews are also working on a fire in the upper Canyon Creek area, now at 17 acres.

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington has established the Chelan Valley Relief Fund to help support those affected by the wildfires in the Chelan area.

Fifteen hundred homes are under evacuation orders.

Nationally, every available wildfire crew, engine and aircraft is committed to a fire, a spokeswoman for the center said.

Meantime, red flag warnings have been posted for much of northern Montana, including Great Falls and Helena.

On the Kootenai National Forest, the Marston fire 15 miles southeast of Eureka was threatening the Mount Marston Lookout.

Saturday, the humidity increased to about 70 to 80 percent, making it more favorable for resources to fight the fire. Firefighters say the fires were pushed in multiple directions by erratic winds from passing storms. The first one, which was contained Friday after more than two weeks, destroyed 43 homes.

Firefighters are also still dealing with the Wolverine Fire near Lucerne. It’s only 1 percent contained.

Tap here for the latest map of the Jerusalem Fire.

Steve Bullock deployed the state’s National Guard to combat more than a dozen wildfires that have threatened homes and prompted authorities to advise residents to be prepared to flee should conditions worsen.

Natalie Swaby’s Friday night report.