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Multiple U.S. Western states are suffering from horrific wildfires.
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FRESNO, Calif. – Heavy winds sweeping across the West fueled fast-growing wildfires Wednesday and forced mass evacuations as firefighters battled gamely to protect lives, homes and businesses.
More than 80 major fires that have burned more than 4,200 square miles – the size of 14 New York Cities –are raging in 13 Western states. And several weeks of fire season remain across a region plagued by high heat and parched terrain.
Northern and Central California remained under siege as Diablo winds fanned the flames of roaring, historic fires burning virtually uncontrolled. Fifteen firefighters suffered burns and smoke inhalation after deploying emergency shelters as flames from the Dolan Fire destroyed a fire station in the Los Padres National Forest on the state’s central coast, Incident Commander Rob Allen said.
Three were flown to a hospital in Fresno, and Allen said one suffered critical injuries and another serious injuries.
The Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest has destroyed more than 350 structures and forced evacuation of over 30,000 people in Fresno and Madera counties, authorities said. That includes scores of people evacuated by California National Guard and Navy pilots who completed eight trips to the wilderness, bringing dozens of people back each time. Fresno County deputies and Fresno police officers were also among those evacuated, Fresno County Lt. Brandon Purcell said.
Unfavorable weather conditions are expected to last until some time Thursday.
“We understand what you’re going through,” Incident Commander Marty Adell said. “A lot of us come from fire-prone areas. We’ve been in this business for a long time. … We are going to try everything in our power to get you back into the areas you call home.”
Fires were also blazing in Southern California, and the state already has seen a record 3,600 square miles burn this year. Strong winds were also driving wildfires in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
California ablaze:Striking satellite imagery shows how the fires are unfolding
In Oregon, a series of fires forced residents to flee flames, smoke and destruction. In Marion County, a Detroit evacuee wondered what she and neighbors had left behind as she raced from the inferno.
“Fire on both sides, winds blowing, ash flying. It was like driving through hell,” Jody Evans told NewsChannel 21. “Did you lose everything, or is the only thing you saved yourself?”
Montana: 28 homes lost in Bridger Foothills fire
The Bridger Foothills Fire near Bozeman, Montana, isn’t large in comparison to some of the blazes exploding across the West. But it has been costly. Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin said 28 residences and an unknown number of other buildings have been damaged or destroyed by fire stretching over more than 7,000 acres – about 11 square miles.
“There would have been a heck of a lot more (homes burned) than that if it weren’t for our firefighters,” Gootkin told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Precipitation over the fire area was helping, but the sheriff’s office warned on its Facebook page that “heavy fuels” remain dry inside and continue to burn. A warming, drying trend was expected through week’s end, adding to the fire concerns.
Oregon: Power outages and evacuations
In Oregon, almost 100,000 homes and businesses were without power Wednesday. The state Office of Emergency Management said at least 35 fires were burning across the state. Gov. Kate Brown approved an emergency “conflagration” order freeing up state resources for several wildfires that exceed the capabilities of local crews. She said initial reports show some blazes may have been caused by downed power lines.
“This is proving to be an unprecedented and significant fire event for our state, and frankly for the entire West Coast,” Brown said.
In Gates, a Marion County hamlet of about 500 people 35 miles east of Salem, acting Mayor John McCormick said it was difficult to track of which homes were spared by the flames and which ones were destroyed. As he packed up birth certificates and other essentials before fleeing, he could see trees “exploding. You could hear them popping like firecrackers.”
“We were happy and at home and everything was great. Within a few hours, everything changed for everybody,” he said. “We weren’t even in evacuation stage until suddenly the fire was there. No step 1, 2, 3 and get out. It was ‘Get out!’ There was no warning whatsoever.”
Washington: ‘Unprecedented, heartbreaking event’
Fires continued to roar across parts of Washington state. Hundreds of residents have been ordered to evacuate this week. More than 500 square miles burned Monday alone, Gov. Jay Inslee said. That’s more in a single day than 12 of the last 18 entire fire seasons, he said.
“It’s an unprecedented and heart-breaking event,” Inslee said. “We’re living in a new world. This is not the old Washington.”
Inslee said at least nine major fires were burning across the state. He blamed heat, high winds, low humidity – and climate change – for the explosive growth of fires.
“A fire that you might’ve seen that was going to be OK over time isn’t OK anymore because the conditions are so dry, they’re so hot, they’re so windy,” Inslee said. “The climate has changed.”
One positive note: Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said there appeared to be no deaths or serious injuries in the state.
California: Rescues, burned homes in North; South awaits Santa Anas
Helicopters have rescued hundreds of people stranded in the burning Sierra National Forest, where the Creek Fire has destroyed 365 buildings, including at least 45 homes, and 5,000 structures were threatened, fire officials said. Flames threatened the foothill community of Auberry between Shaver Lake and Fresno.
Isaac Rodriguez of San Diego was among those airlifted to safety. Rodriguez and a group of friends went backpacking above Shaver Lake and planned to camp. When things got hot, Rodriguez took refuge at Lake Edison’s Vermilion Valley Resort and waited for help.
“The day we started backpacking, we didn’t know there was a fire,” Rodriguez said. “They took care of us pretty well there. … We knew we couldn’t get out.”
In Southern California, fires burned in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, and the forecast called for the arrival of the region’s notorious Santa Anas. The hot, dry winds could reach 50 mph at times, forecasters said. Residents of foothill communities east of Los Angeles were being told to stay alert because of a fire in the Angeles National Forest.
“The combination of gusty winds, very dry air, and dry vegetation will create critical fire danger,” the National Weather Service warned.
Bacon reported from Arlington, Virginia. Contributing: Sheyanne N. Romero, Visalia Times-Delta; Bill Poehler and Capi Lynn, Salem Statesman Journal; The Associated Press
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