High winds push growing Washington wildfire

[alp227]

Source: AP

WINTHROP, Wash. (AP) — Pushed by howling, erratic winds, a massive wildfire in north-central Washington was growing rapidly and burning in new directions Saturday.

Road closures and evacuations were changing regularly, as hot weather and winds with gusts up to 30 mph were pushing the fire over ridge tops and toward a cluster of small towns northeast of Seattle.

"This is a very active and fluid situation," fire spokesman Chuck Turey said.

As of Saturday morning, the lightning-caused fire had scorched nearly 340 square miles in the scenic Methow Valley. The fire was measured at 260 square miles Friday.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/damage-washington-wildfires-hard-believe

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Seattle Times: Lightning, wind and high, dry grass: a recipe for conflagration; ‘Pandemonium’ as blaze roars down hill to engulf Pateros; Wildfire spreading rapidly in Okanogan County

Spokane Spokesman-Review: New fires burning in Central Washington

Wenatchee World: In Pateros: 'We lost everything'; Update: Carlton Complex continues to grow in all directions

The Oregonian, Portland: Northwest wildfires: Situation worsens with five new 'large, uncontained' fires

[Hekate]

1. Kick. Prayers from SoCal for all those in the path of fire.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, alp.

[2naSalit]

3. Yikes

sending positive energy there. My neighbor - and good friend - was sent out on that one last Tuesday.

[suffragette]

4. Major fires across the Pacific NW, Canada, Washington and Oregon

Map from a couple days ago



http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/crews-from-across-canada-arrive-to-help-battle-b-c-wildfires-1.1921720

It's bad across the whole region.

[alp227]

5. update from seattletimes.com

Cooler weather, lower winds helping to contain wildfires

Wenatchee World reporting: NCW fires nation’s top priority :

The Carlton Complex is listed as the country’s top priority on the National Interagency Coordination Center website. The Chiwaukum Creek Fire, near Leavenworth, and the Mills Canyon Fire near Entiat, are the second and third highest priorities.