SPOKANE, Wash. — Thunderstorms on Wednesday dumped hail and heavy rain on the largest wildfire in Washington state history.
It wasn’t enough to extinguish all the flames, but officials said the Carlton Complex Fire was 52 percent contained Wednesday evening.
The storm raised humidity in the area of the fire and prevented it from growing much, fire spokeswoman Kris Erikson said.
The wildfire stands at more than 250,000 acres, or nearly 400 square miles, and it’s being fought by about 2,500 people.
“Today we have not seen active fire behavior,” fire spokesman Andrew Sandri said.
Penny-sized hail rained on Winthrop and 50 mph winds whipped through Twisp, prompting Washington State Patrol to caution drivers traveling through the area.
Due to the intense thunderstorms, all firefighters in the Carlton Zone (north) were pulled off the line for their safety.
The weather produced more than 20,000 lightning strikes that resulted in at least eight new small fires. At least one mudslide was reported.
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed a federal emergency declaration for the areas affected by the wildfires. The declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster relief and help state and local agencies with equipment and resources.
The cost of fighting Washington’s wildfires is already well over budget for the year.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources reports that the total cost of resources has already totaled $25 million. The available budget is $19 million.
“The numbers so far are staggering,” said Mary Verner, deputy supervisor for the department. “This is still early in the season that is supposed to last through mid-October.”
The Carlton Complex Fire started as four smaller fires sparked by lightning July 14. Those fires merged into a 28-square-mile fire by July 17 before expanding to nearly 336 square miles by Saturday.
The cost does not include smaller fires burning across the state where state resources have been dispatched.
“Looking forward, we have to always worry about whether or not we will have enough money in the state coffers to pay for the fires that actually occurred,” Verner said. “That will far exceed the $19 million available.”
Verner points out 70% of fires last year were human caused. Those are considered preventable fires that swallow resources that could be used for fire prevention and land treatment.
In 2013, the Department of Natural Resources spent $49 million in wildfire fighting efforts. The cost was $25 million in 2012.
Earlier this year, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that wildfire-fighting costs this summer are projected to run roughly $400 million over budget. Some experts believe wildfire seasons nationwide are stretching longer, and fires are burning larger.
Speaking at a fundraiser Tuesday in Seattle, Obama said the wildfire, along with other western blazes, can be attributed to climate change.
“A lot of it has to do with drought, a lot of it has to do with changing precipitation patterns, and a lot of that has to do with climate change,” the president said.
– USATODAY
