WINTHROP, Wash. — Cooler temperatures and lighter winds are forecast to descend on a wildfire-stricken Washington state, helping firefighters battle flames that have been growing unfettered for a week and have covered hundreds of square miles.
While the weather Sunday was a slight improvement on the hot temperatures and gusty winds that have fueled the wildfires, the forecast for Monday and Tuesday called for lighter winds and temperatures, said Spokane-based National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Koch.
“Overall, it looks like the weather scenario is improving,” Koch said.
On Wednesday, a “vigorous” front is expected to cover Washington, bringing rain to much of the state.
The official estimate Sunday put the wildfire burning in north-central Washington at more than 370 square miles. It measured 260 square miles Friday.
Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers estimated that 150 homes had been destroyed but said the number could be higher. His deputies haven’t been able to search parts of the county where homes are spread miles apart.
No serious injuries have been reported, Rogers said.
Nearly 1,400 firefighters are battling the flames, assisted by more than 100 fire engines, helicopters dropping buckets of water and planes spreading flame retardant.
On Sunday, Rogers drove to the town of Twisp to survey the damage.
“It’s the first time in four days I’ve seen blue sky,” he said. “Every day, when you got up, it was nothing but smoke. All we’ve seen of the sun is a red ball.”
Towns in the Methow Valley remain without power and have limited landline and cellphone service. Okanogan County Public Utility District officials told KREM that fully restoring power to the area could take weeks.
Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday about 50 fires were burning in Washington, which has been wracked by hot, dry weather, gusting winds and lightning.
The Washington state Department of Natural Resources said Saturday evening that firefighters from New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming were coming to the state to help.
Early Saturday, authorities said they were bringing in two military air tankers from Wyoming to help fight wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere.
