Amazing photos show Washington Wildfires from the air
SEATTLE -- Wildfires scorching Washington State have blanketed the region in thick smoke that at times from the ground to almost block the sun. Air quality concerns from the crest of the Cascades stretch all the way east to central Montana.
But, getting above the flames and smoke lends a dramatic view of the rugged terrain and massive size of fires that crews on the ground have been battling in the Pacific Northwest for weeks.
Descending yesterday from a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet on a route over Eastern and Central Washington-- our Alaska Airlines flight brought us towards the tops of the towering plumes of smoke of the Okanagan and Chelan Complex fires. Q13 FOX Meteorologist MJ McDermott says a weak dry front released the inversion layer over much of Central and Eastern Washington-- allowing the smoke plumes to climb to the highest heights we've seen this week so far on Tuesday afternoon.
The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center which tracks and deals with fires in our region says lightning sparked the Okanagan Complex fire began on August 14th and continues to rage only 15% contained. 18 homes have been destroyed and more than five thousand remain in harm's way.
The Chelan Complex fire also began in mid-August and authorities have yet to establish the cause of this blaze. 21 residences and nearly two dozen other smaller structures have been destroyed and another 1,300 homes remain at risk with this blaze.
Three firefighers lost their lives last week in Washington State. Officials say as the winds shifted, their vehicle somehow fell down a 40-foot embankment. The fire consumed them — killing the three men and injuring four others.
Incoming rain along with cooler temperatures this weekend is also expected to help crews on the ground get more of both complexes contained. Due to this year's tinder dry conditions.
It's estimated that both complex fires might burn until mid-October when shorter days, cooler temperatures, fall rains could combine to allow for these two fires to finally be put out.