Washington and Oregon crews just aren’t big enough for the wildfires in Washington, so officials are calling Canada for help.
More than 100 firefighters and support crew were expected to arrive Sunday and Monday from British Columbia to join about 3,500 Washington and Oregon crews fighting five large fires in Washington. U.S. officials are also talking to Alberta officials about sending more firefighters.
Another 800 people from the Northwest are fighting fires in other states, mostly in Idaho, California and Montana.
All of Washington’s current big wildfires started during a Sept. 8 lightning storm. The largest wildfire in the state is a complex of fires burning near Wenatchee. The Wenatchee Complex is only 17 percent contained and has forced hundreds of people out of their homes. A majority of the 700 homes were under an evacuation order Sunday because they were in imminent danger.
Evacuations were also ordered near two other fires – the Yakima Complex burning on about 6,000 acres, and the Okanogan Complex, which is burning north of Wenatchee on nearly 4,000 acres. The Cascade Creek Complex of fires was burning on about 6,000 acres.
Washington’s fifth-largest wildfire complex, the 3-square-mile Barker Canyon Fire, was nearly contained by Sunday. (AP)
