State of emergency declared

Inslee and members of the state congressional delegation said Thursday in Chelan they would press Obama to make a speedy decision on the emergency declaration.

A deadly cluster of wildfires continued to rage across Washington state on Friday after exploding in size overnight and prompting President Obama to sign a disaster declaration.

A new poll shows Clinton losing hypothetical match-ups to Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Jeb Bush. In Washington alone, 11 counties have been affected, as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation.

The state also expects to file a request for a federal disaster declaration later, which would provide federal aid for some property lost in the wildfires.

The specialists will join the almost 29,000 firefighters working in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and California to combat daunting blazes that have overtaken the region.

Three have men died fighting the fires in Washington, where blazes have been particularly strong this week.

In Washington’s rural central region, the Okanogan Complex fires had collectively burned 124,083 acres by Friday.

The federal government will proved 75 percent of the cost of emergency measures, a statement from the White House said.

“Governor Dayton’s Executive Order directs the Minnesota National Guard to assist with fire suppression efforts by providing for 2 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, along with needed personnel and equipment, for a mission to Washington State beginning today for up to 15 days”.

With manpower and other resources stretched thin, fire managers have turned to the U.S. Army, the National Guard and even personnel from Canada, Australia and New Zealand to furnish reinforcements.