Forest and Range Fires Battled by Over 4,000 in Pacific Northwest

The ranks of firefighters battling forest and range blazes across the Pacific Northwest swelled past 4,000 on Wednesday as shifting winds threatened to bring more lightning and hot, dry air.

Fire crews from 11 states were called in to help fight fires in Oregon, Washington and Idaho that have charred more than 110,000 acres since last weekend.

No injuries or damage to structures were reported but more weather problems were expected.

“We’re predicted to get more thunderstorms with dry lightning and northwest winds, which could lead to some erratic fire behavior,” said Arnold Hartigan of the Boise Interagency Fire Center.

8 Major Fires in Oregon

In northeast Oregon, about 3,200 firefighters struggled against eight major fires that raced through 20,000 acres of pine country in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, said Mike Ferris, a Forest Service spokesman in Portland.

The fires were the worst concentration of blazes still burning from a weekend of lightning storms that touched off major forest and range fires in the three states.

Fire crews kept the flames of a 4,500-acre blaze, dubbed the Clear fire, about two miles from the Anthony Lakes ski resort and lodge. But forest officials began a voluntary evacuation of a 75-square-mile area around the Anthony Lakes recreation area, including several campsites and summer homes.