Washington Wildfire Biggest In State History

While the massive wildfires in Washington State continue to burn and smoke fills the southern half of our province, there is not any increased concern of those fires crossing the border.

Another set of fires in Washington state, called the Kettle Complex, was threatening the southern B.C. communities of Grand Forks and Christina Lake late last week. To date, this years’ fire season has burned 7,487,737 total acres, more than any other season in the last 10 years. On Wednesday, three young firefighters were killed battling the blazes near Twisp in Okanogan County and four were injured.

Dozens of fire managers and firefighters from Australia and New Zealand reported to the Fire Center’s headquarters on Monday, preparing for deployment to aid in fighting numerous wildfires in Washington state, Cozakos said.

Planes and helicopters were making major liquid drops on a wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon near a ski resort in the San Bernardino Mountains, bringing the first gains against the blaze. Firefighters have contained about 25 percent of it. Thousands of structures remain threatened.

About 1,250 people are battling the fires.

Fire officials in Washington state say smoke is lifting over the wildfires, meaning good news for those with sensitive breathing issues.

Nevertheless, the department said, people in the area should take the same precautions as they would with any other kind of smoky air.

“There’s so many fires, in so many different areas”, said Johnson.

Two of the five fires in the Okanogan Complex recently combined as the wind blew them together.

On Monday morning, air sensors in some portions of central Idaho for the area around the Nez Perce tribal reservation showed the air quality index reaching “hazardous” levels – the highest-possible designation – with values higher than 300 on the AQI scale, the worst in the state. 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. For the safety of firefighting personnel and the public, recreational boaters are asked to avoid using the lake during these operations.

Earlier this week, Belles just happened to be working 30 miles out of town when he received a voicemail from a friend warning him about a fire approaching his home, he told ABC News Monday. The engines are coming from Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado, officials said.

The three-acre Spruce fire, south of Highway 2 at Bear Creek, was quickly contained and put out over the weekend.