The massive fire burning in north-central Washington is the largest ever in state history. The Okanogan Complex of blazes was measured overnight at just over 400 square miles. Fire fighters are saying that the fire could burn until rain and snow season arrives.
Two of five of the complex’s individual fires merged, creating a blaze that has overtaken more than 108,000 acres. The entire complex is only 10 percent contained as of this writing.
“We do continue to make progress, but with these fires, the only way to deal with them is like eating an elephant — one bite at a time,” said Todd Pechota, incident commander.
The Northwest is on fire and the wildfires show no signs of abating. How many homes and other structures have been burned by the Okanogan Complex is unclear at this point.
About 1,250 people are battling the wildfire, including crews with about 70 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand.
Approximately 700 National Guardsmen are fighting wildfires throughout Washington on at least 16 large fires covering of 920 square miles. More than 200 homes have been destroyed and more than 12,000 homes and thousands of other structures remain threatened.
Dense smoke, causing visibility problems, has prevented aircraft from supporting efforts on the ground. Large amounts of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington are under air quality alert warnings from the National Weather Service due to dense smoke.
Last week, three firefighters will killed and four injured when they were overtaken while trying to escape the flames.
“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.” Desire of Ages, page 636
Source Reference