Wildfire persists through Washington rain
SPOKANE, Wash. — Thunderstorms are expected to drop up to half an inch of rain Wednesday on the largest wildfire in the state’s history, but that won’t be enough to extinguish the flames.
“It takes a lot more than that,” said Andrew Sandri, spokesman for the Carlton Complex of fires. “It by no means puts this fire out.”
The wildfire stands at more than 250,000 acres and is being fought by about 2,500 people, Sandri said.
The rain will certainly help firefighters make progress, however, he said. “Today we have not seen active fire behavior,” Sandri said.
But lightning could also spark new fires in the parched region, he said. And all the moisture could lead to flash floods because so much ground vegetation has been lost. The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch from Wednesday morning through evening.
The fire remains at 16 percent contained, as crews concentrate on strengthening existing fire lines, Sandri said.
The fire has burned about 150 homes and is blamed for one death after a man died of a heart attack while hauling water and digging a fire line to protect his home.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in Washington because of the fires. The declaration authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster relief and help state and local agencies with equipment and resources.
“These additional resources will significantly help our efforts to restore power to thousands of people affected by these fires,” Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee said. “I appreciate his prompt response and partnership in helping our state.”
Inslee spoke with the president during his visit to the state Tuesday.
The governor also requested additional federal resources, including assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help with assessment, planning and installation of emergency power generators to restore power to facilities that are critical to the well-being of fire-damaged communities. These include water and wastewater treatment systems and other municipal facilities.
Inslee declared a state of emergency on July 15 in the 20 counties of eastern Washington as a result of wildfires. The governor amended the proclamation on Monday to include a temporary outdoor burn ban in that part of the state. The ban is effective through Friday.
Speaking at a fundraiser Tuesday in Seattle, Obama said the wildfire, along with other blazes in the West, can be attributed to climate change.
At more than 250,000 acres, the Carlton Complex is larger than the 1902 Yacolt Burn, which consumed 238,920 acres in southwestern Washington and was the state’s largest recorded forest fire, according to HistoryLink.org, an online resource of Washington state history.
The Wenatchee World reported Wednesday that two area residents were arrested on suspicion of arson this weekend, accused of setting two separate back burns that got out of control, with one of them almost trapping a fire crew in a canyon. The back burns were lighted by men trying to save property, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said. Back burns are secondary fires lit on purpose to burn fuels in the path of an oncoming fire.
The wildfires have reduced tourism along the 440-mile Cascade Loop Scenic Highway. But members of the Cascade Loop Association hope that tourists will return when the fires are out.
“Tourism is a vital economic driver in the region, and we are optimistic that the return of leisure travelers will help stimulate recovery,” said Annette Pitts, executive director of the Cascade Loop Association.
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Online:
http://carltoncomplex.blogspot.com
http://www.dnr.wa.gov
Northern Utah fire burns
SALT LAKE CITY — Fire crews in northern Utah worked Wednesday to control a handful of fast-growing blazes.
The Anaconda Fire 5 miles northeast of Tooele had burned about 2 square miles of brush. Fire investigators believe lightning ignited the blaze, which was 25 percent contained.
Residents returned to their homes after an estimated 15 houses were evacuated Monday evening.
Roads leading in and around the fire were closed as crews from a number of agencies worked to contain the blaze.
Lookout Pass, which provides access to camping in the west desert, likely will be closed for the next few days, fire information officer Teresa Rigby said. The Simpson Springs recreation area also is closed as crews set up camp there.
The fire is one of several around the state that is threatening no structures but has closed trails and waterways to recreation. Officers are urging families and others to consult weather and wildfire forecasts before they head out on excursions.
— ASSOCIATED PRESS
