DC-10 joins fight against big blaze

DAYTON, Columbia County — Washington state officials ordered in reinforcements to fight the large fires blazing in the eastern half of the state Thursday, including a DC-10 jetliner capable of dropping as much as eight times more fire retardant than the usual air tankers.

Fire crews welcomed cooler weather and light winds Thursday, but forecasters were predicting higher temperatures and dry conditions through the weekend and into next week.

Firefighters from Arizona, Oregon and New Mexico joined the fight Thursday against the 70-square-mile Columbia Complex of fires in southeastern Washington, where 200 buildings remained threatened.

Authorities also issued a plea for more help from other states in the region.

Teams from the state Department of Natural Resources have been busy for weeks, and the state has nearly exhausted its resources, said Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland.

Sutherland ordered the DC-10 Thursday. It is owned by a private contractor and costs $26,000 per hour, with a minimum of three hours per day. Sutherland said he expects the jetliner to be used for about six hours over two days.

Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a statewide wildfire emergency Wednesday. The proclamation frees state agencies to spend money and resources to help local jurisdictions fight wildfires.