Documents: Winds shifted minutes before firefighters killed
TWISP, Wash (AP) -- Within the span of 12 minutes, a wildfire in Washington state went from being just one of many lightning-sparked blazes burning across the Pacific Northwest to the scene of the deadliest single wildfire this year in the U.S.
Three firefighters were killed on Aug. 19 near the mountain town of Twisp. Before they could escape, they were overrun by flames.
Andrew Zajac, Richard Wheeler and Tom Zbyszewski were the first team to tackle tge fire near Twisp River Road.
Dispatch records from the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request detail the chaos of the fire and coordinated response to the blaze.
While the documents don't say why the crash occurred or what attempts were made to save the crew members, they illustrate a common problem: How to stay safe in unpredictable shifting winds while doing a job that is high-risk.
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.
At least two fire shelters were deployed up the hill from their engine. Down below, the only survivor, Daniel Lyon, who sat in the rear-left seat of the crashed vehicle, could hold the key for investigators.
Lyon remains in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. The other three injured firefighters were treated and released from local hospitals.
On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee headed to the fire lines to thank crews battling the huge blazes that have burned in Washington state this year.
Speaking in Chelan Thursday before travelling to meet firefighters, Inslee said the crews from Washington, other states and abroad are "exhausted" but "so committed" to the work they are doing.
Major General Bret Daugherty, who commands the Washington National Guard, was travelling with Inslee. He said as of this week there were about 1,000 guard troops helping firefighting efforts, including 200 people on the fire lines. Dougherty says authorities hope better weather will aid efforts.
The numerous wildfires burning in Washington state cover about 1,144-square miles of land - an area nearly the size of Rhode Island.
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