Cold front may bring relief in battle with state wildfires

DAYTON, Columbia County — After battling wildfires under "red flag" conditions of high temperatures, winds and low humidity, fire bosses were hoping that cooler weather expected to move into Eastern Washington would bring relief.

But the cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity could also be accompanied by high winds and lightning, which could drive existing fires and spark new ones, fire spokesmen said.

A cold front — expected to drop temperatures 10 to 15 degrees from current area highs in the 90s — was expected to move in today, National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Fox said. The cooler weather also will bring more wind, but it is hoped the cooler, damper conditions will counter the wind's impact, Fox said Monday.

The forecast change comes after warnings were issued for both the Columbia Complex fires in southeastern Washington and the Tripod Complex in the north-central part of the state.

While the weather was in transition, management of the massive Columbia Complex of fires near Dayton also was changing.

A "Type 1" management team, experienced in handling larger, more complex fires, was expected to take over fire-boss duties today, spokesman Craig McCaa said. Evacuation orders remained in effect for some vacation cabins and homes in several drainages, according to an online update. Two residences and several dozen outbuildings were burned last week by the Columbia Complex fires.

The Columbia Complex has burned across more than 64,171 acres, or about 103 square miles. The fires that make up the complex began with lightning strikes Aug. 21.

The fires were being fought by about 735 firefighters, including ground crews from British Columbia and Alberta. Firefighters working the fire come from Alaska, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado.

At the Tripod Complex in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, crews on Monday focused on spot fires burning near and in the Pasayten Wilderness, spokeswoman Diane Bedell said. "There has been some very active burning in the northeastern corner and it has pushed into the Pasayten Wilderness a bit."

Crews were pulled off the fire at midday Monday when temperature, humidity and wind speed combined to trigger a safety alert, Bedell said.

The fires that make up the complex, between Winthrop and Conconully, were started by lightning in early July and were about 50 percent contained.

The towns of Winthrop and Conconully are open for business despite the fires, which are not likely to be fully contained until Oct. 1, fire managers said.

Meanwhile, Whitman County officials declared the 3,500-acre Palouse River fire fully contained. The fire, believed to have started last Wednesday from sparks from a harvest combine, destroyed a grain elevator and railroad trestle near the town of Colfax, but no homes were damaged.

Updates on the state's other major wildfires:

• The Flick Creek fire, on the eastern shore of Lake Chelan, had covered 5,160 acres, or about eight square miles, and was 40 percent contained. The human-caused fire began July 26. On site were 17 firefighters and one helicopter. Stehekin, at the north end of the lake, is welcoming visitors though there are some campground and trail closures in the area.

• The Tinpan fire, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, had covered 5,750 acres or about 8.6 square miles. Started by lightning July 6, it was being allowed to burn naturally within preset boundaries.

• The Carbon Copy fire near the northwest boundary of Mount Rainier National Park grew to 970 acres and was about 60 percent contained. In the same complex, the Bear Gulch fire, about 15 miles northwest of Hoodsport, was 750 acres and about 25 percent contained.