The Latest: Fire in Washington now largest in state history

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

The latest on wildfires in the West (all times local):

9 a.m.

The massive fire burning in north-central Washington is now the largest in state history.

The Okanogan (oh-kah-NAH'-guhn) Complex of wildfires has surpassed last year's Carlton Complex blazes.

Fire spokesman Rick Isaacson said Monday the Okanogan Complex was measured overnight at just over 400 square miles, slightly more than the Carlton fires, which also burned in Okanogan County.

FULL story at link.



Firefighter Dallas Barron pokes his firefighting tool into the charred ground as he searches for hotspots left from a wildfire Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, in Chelan, Wash. Firefighters across the West saw little relief over the weekend as wildfires raged in the drought-stricken region, but for those in Washington, other states will soon provide additional resources. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dffe3fb6d31544feb02d8e06fe16b9c1/latest-northwest-fires-prompt-air-advisory-colorado

[gcomeau]

1. My mom lives in Kelowna B.C.

Like 200 miles from the fires in Washington.

She could only see 5 or 6 blocks out her window yesterday before the city disappeared in the haze from the smoke drifting up from those fires.

[SeattleVet]

6. There are big fires in B.C., also.

A friend in Vancouver has been telling us about the fires up there.

[SoapBox]

2. Yikes...

I'm temporarily in Portland...the smoke on Saturday was awful...Sunday still not good...today is dramatically better due to a wind change. They are predicting possible rains this coming weekend...the whole region desperately needs it...keep your fingers crossed.

[2naSalit]

3. Been under air quality alert

for over two weeks here in western Montana. Expecting dry lightning in the next few days which will result in more fires, I suppose YNP area will be the next major burn in the next couple weeks... it's all creeping eastward. The smoke plumes have reached out into the Atlantic Ocean during the past week.

[uppityperson]

4. Here is the best map I've found, it updates.

Hatched yellow is fire perimeter, red is currently burning. If you click the dropdown box "map" at top right and click Modis from Geomap, it does a different thing showing currently burning and last 24 hours.

It is awful. Here is a place to donate money, friends in the area gave it to me. http://www.occac.com/

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=48.555457%2C-118.375521&z=8&t=m%2CMODIS_from_ESRI%2CFire_perimeter&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.propertylinemaps.com%2Fp%2Fpublic_land_map%2FUSA%2FUSA_wildland_fire_2.txt

ETA current smoke map.

[Aristus]

5. Our sunsets lately have been the kinds of things you usually see in post-apocalyptic movies.

[passiveporcupine]

7. OMG that's beautfiul

Too bad it has to be the result of fires.

[Matariki]

8. Seattle was really smokey over the weekend

Much worse north and northeast of the city. Still, we're pretty far from the fires and the smoke was pretty bad here.