Associated Press
OMAK – Rain tamed wildfires burning in Eastern Washington, and firefighters worked within sight of the flames Wednesday to snuff them out before hot weather returns.
“Today were going to take advantage of the conditions,” said Will Williams, a spokesman on the 47,488-acre Rex Creek fire complex burning north of Lake Chelan in the Wenatchee National Forest. “We’re going to make a direct line against the fire. We’re going to be aggressive and put crews right up on the edge of the fire.”
Progress was reported Wednesday on all seven major fires, which have blackened more than 150,000 acres on the eastern slopes of the Cascades.
High winds in advance of the rainy weather front pushed the St. Mary’s fire, part of the 73,000-acre Virginia Lake complex of fires burning on the Colville Indian Reservation, near 60 homes late Tuesday, spokesman Penny Hulse said. About 50 homes were evacuated as a precaution.
However, no structures were lost as air tankers dropped water and ground crews sprayed foam on houses until the fire passed. Winds Wednesday were blowing the fire away from residences, she said.
Light rain began falling on Eastern Washington fires late Tuesday and continued through the night, allowing firefighters to make direct attacks for the first time since lightning sparked scores of fires Aug. 12.
On several fires, conditions had improved so much that officials were sending people back to homes evacuated last week.
“Things are very encouraging at this point,” Forest Service spokesman Art Wirtz said of the 7,582-acre Icicle Creek complex west of Leavenworth. “We anticipate a good increase in containment by the end of the day.”
In the Cowiche Creek, Nasty Creek and Reynolds Creek areas about 30 miles west of Yakima, residents who fled the 2,590-acre Spruce Dome complex were being allowed to return to their homes.
An evacuation order was canceled Wednesday morning for 50 houses that had been in the path of the Cape LaBelle fire, part of the 3,870-acre Tonasket complex of fires, spokeswoman Mary Hulce said.
“The fire burned right up near these houses,” Hulce said. “We’re looking good. We still haven’t lost any structures.”
In other fires:
The National Weather Service forecast warmer, drier weather for the weekend.
“This rain is going to help us out a lot. It’s not going to put the fire out, but what it will do is coat light fuels like grasses and brush,” Williams said. “For the heavier fuels, it’s not going to provide a lot of relief for this drought.”
Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
