300 homes destroyed in Washington wildfires
Jul 25, 2014, 3:44 PM | Updated: 3:57 pm
Green orchard areas stand out in contrast to burned out areas in the aftermath of wildfires that swept through Pateros in this aerial photo. (AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
Wildfires that have ravaged central Washington for two weeks have destroyed over 300 homes. That number is double what officials reported last weekend.
The increase for the Carlton Complex wildfires is because officials were able to finally get into Twisp and Winthrop in the past few days, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers told the Wenatchee World.
Fire information officer Joni Quarnstrom said the Carlton Complex is 55 percent contained (has burned about 250,500 acres) and firefighters aren’t getting complacent about the cooler weather. They’re working as diligently as they can with an eye towards a hot, dry weekend.
Meanwhile, translators at the Red Cross in Brewster are trying to reach out to immigrant and migrant communities affected by the wildfires.
“They are not aware of the resources available and it’s difficult to get the information to them,” Red Cross spokesperson Jacqueline Cook told KIRO Radio.
She said workers who are undocumented may be too afraid to ask for help, but she said the Red Cross does not ask for documents or proof of legal status.
KIRO Radio’s Brandi Kruse contributed to this report.
