Forum Discussion
- Looks like the fire closest to Chelan started on Chelan Butte. That's a grassy hill south of town, with slopes extending down to the Columbia River. I've driven up that, and around the south side, and can easily a wind driven fire racing through that grass - even in a normally dry summer.
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4354/
South side of Chelan Butte, Sept 2005. - It doesn't seem to matter how much rain we get, cuz it's just as dry the next day. Bunch of lightning strikes all over the state yesterday and today and a whole bunch of new fires. I have heard that a lot of the state from Wenatchee north is closed to camping. 60, very expensive homes north of Chelan are totally gone.
- Interstate 84 has been closed from Ontario to LaGrande several times this past week or two due to fire. Highway 95 from Jordan Valley to Homedale, Idaho has been closed due to a fire that is now at 268,000 acres the last I heard. It could be bigger now.
- Depends on where you are in the state. Looks like most of the Oregon closures are in the NCentral, along US395.
Washington on the east side of the Cascades (Chelan) is bad right now, but the Seattle area got hit with an inch+ of rain yesterday. We've had some smoke blow in from BC and California (and Southern Oregon). But the local burning has been limited to some roadside grass fires. - Oregon is on fire, that's for sure. If you have asthma (like me) I suggest staying as far away as you can. Unfortunately, we're headed for a family reunion in Washington....it's supposed to be worse there!!!!! ARRRRGH
- Rain can mean more fires - caused by lightning strikes.
- Can you believe that Whidbey Island had extreme fire danger until yesterday, when we got our first rain since 13 April.(less than 1/4")
today its gone and dry as ever. - We are in terrible trouble until we see substantial rain God willing.
