TONASKET – Drenching rain and cooler temperatures that accompanied a series of thunderstorms moving across Eastern Washington helped firefighters gain ground on the state’s major wildfires Thursday.
The National Weather Service forecast more rain and cooler temperatures in the region through Friday. Thunderstorms had brought a half inch or more of rain, and skies remained overcast Thursday.
“The weather’s on our side. Mother Nature really is helping right now,” said Roland Emetaz, a spokesman for the Tunk Grade Fire in Okanogan County, the largest active fire in the state.
The lightning-caused fire, which was about 85 percent contained, had blackened more than 25 square miles. Evacuation notices for most homes in the area were canceled, Emetaz said.
Fire bosses anticipated the fire would be fully contained on Saturday, he said.
Spokesman Scott Crawford said the fire had decreased in intensity and crews spent most of Thursday shoring up perimeter lines.
The thunderstorms that brought rain were a mixed blessing, because they also brought lightning, which started some new fires in the central Cascades, officials said.
Firefighters were sent to three fires near Lake Wenatchee, Cle Elum and between Lake Kachess and Cle Elum, said Jim Duck of the Central Washington Interagency Coordination Center.
All three fires were small and not immediately threatening any structures.
More than 400 firefighters were assigned to the Tunk Grade fire about 30 miles south of the Canadian border, but some were being demobilized or sent to other fires, Emetaz and Crawford said.
At one time, the fire threatened as many as 145 homes, Emetaz said. It destroyed two structures, including one home.
To the east, three lightning-sparked fires collectively known as the Windy Ridge Complex were burning over 373 acres of the Colville National Forest in Stevens and Ferry counties. The largest was 30 percent contained, officials said. No structures were threatened.
The Tolo Fire, started Saturday by lightning in North Cascades National Park, had burned about 154 acres in a steep, wooded area about 15 miles northwest of Stehekin, where it was being monitored.
Firefighters in south-central Washington were sent home Thursday after containing the state’s three largest wildfires, which burned about 72 square miles of grass, sagebrush and farm fields in the Horse Heaven hills.
“We’re all done with that. Everybody’s going home this morning,” said Dale Warriner, a state Department of Natural Resources spokesman.
Although the rain that moved through the region on Wednesday came too late to help, “it was still appreciated,” Warriner said. “It made the last day nicer to work in.”
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