Volunteers use Facebook to reunite lost, found pets with owners as wildfire fight continues in central Washington

CHELAN, Wash. -- A Facebook page has been launched for people affected by the Chelan and Okanogan wildfires who may be searching for their pets.

The page is called Chelan and Okanogan Wildfires Lost and Found Pets-NDARRT.

Admins of the Facebook page are sharing photos of lost and found pets in an effort to return them to their owners as the wildfires continue to scorch north-central Washington.

Rain helps slow the fires

The Okanogan Complex of wildfires was listed at 304,782 acres or 476 square miles on Sunday, after windy conditions late last week pushed the fire on a couple of runs. It is now 25-percent contained.

Officials say the fire has destroyed at least 45 primary residences, 49 cabins and 60 outbuildings. Three firefighters died battling the fire Aug. 19, and a memorial service honored them Sunday afternoon in Wenatchee.

The Chelan Complex of fires has burned 165,039 acres or about 257 square miles, and is 50-percent contained, according to InciWeb. Officials estimate 67 structures have been lost in Chelan County and 17 in Douglas County.

Temperatures were expected to be at or below normal with scattered showers continuing to move through at times.

Other Northwest wildfires

In Oregon, crews are working to protect homes from a fire covering 135 square miles. It's destroyed more than three dozen homes. National Guard and other fire crews are working to reinforce lines against winds that are forecast to be gusting up to 40 miles an hour.

Some evacuations have been ordered in west-central Idaho because of a wildfire that has expanded to 40 square miles.

And officials say residents of the Essex area in northwestern Montana could be out of their homes for up to a week because of a fire that is within a half mile of the town on the southern edge of Glacier National Park.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.