Washington wildfires updates: Fires blaze amid arrival of additional resources
As Washington firefighters battled more than a dozen wildfires that grazed the state on Sunday, complaints about the lack of resources and destruction of many infrastructures also took a toll on the residents and assistance teams.
Local officials reported that the smoke that plagued the area has started to subside, but the people's fear of unhealthy air and surroundings, as well as the perception that new fires could spread, took the attention of the officials.
Suzanne Flory, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service and the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, said, "It's like a flue opening in a fireplace. Smoke serves as a cap on the fire."
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As of the latest record, more than 275,000 gallons have been showered all over the areas that were being grazed by the 16 fires that haunted Evergreen State, the state's National Guard reported.
According to NBC News, hundreds lost their homes to the fires, and more than 12,000 more are on the verge of losing theirs in case new fires spread.
Gov. Jay Inslee's office said officials have been dispatched to boost whatever firefighting assets the state has in an attempt to be one step ahead of the possibilities that could happen in the midst of the growing crisis.
A state ad has been distributed, and thousands of residents have reportedly responded to the ad that was "seeking citizens with firefighting experience." The growing numbers is a huge addition to the National Guard troops that will also see another 200 being added to help quench the fires.
Reports also say that a new firefighting mobilization center is being built at an Air Force base near Spokane.
Following Gov. Inslee's request for a federal emergency declaration, President Barack Obama sent additional resources to help the state in its fierce battle against the blaze.
Meanwhile, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and California, as well as the eastern halves of both Oregon and Washington have been under air quality alert calls because of the heavy smoke lingering in the air.
