Latest fire map. Red areas are active, orange areas are burned over--the "black zones."
The two big fires on the left and in the middle comprise the Okanogan Complex Fire, the biggest ever in Washington State. The big fire on the right is the North Star Fire. The concern is that the Okanogan and North Star will merge. As it stands, the combined perimeters total over a thousand miles. The current assessment is that the fires overall are 17% contained.
Meanwhile, you can see that we dodged a bullet, and Trout Lake burns. All roads into Trout Lake are now completely closed so I won't be able to get in for a look until it has burned out or been stopped.
More helicopters. These are two of the helicopters fighting the big fire to the east of our home last Saturday. They made many runs as fast as they could, one helicopter coming as soon as the other had left. They were using one of the few deep holes left in a very low river, and that hole was behind our house. It's hazardous duty, especially when visibility is low like this. I tried to give a salute to these brave firefighters, but I don't think they ever took their eyes off their work.
Even though the fire to the east was still going strong last Friday, a north wind slowed its advance toward our house and town. By Friday evening, however, the fire had topped the ridge in several places and begun to creep its way down. One of those places was just across the highway from our house.
It wasn't long before a firecopter with a bambi bucket came to the rescue. It made several runs, dousing the fire and the area in front of it.
That held the fire off overnight, and by Saturday reinforcements in the form of more helicopters had arrived. They worked for miles all along the eastern edge of the fire. By Sunday, the fire had retreated.
It was another victory in an ongoing war. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Thanks!
When I went outside Wednesday morning the smoke was thick. There are many fires burning all around us, and they're growing in extent and potency.
I couldn't go to the lake. I had things I needed to do. My responsibilities took me to Omak, 25 miles to the south. While I was there news came of immediate evacuation orders for two towns to the southwest of Omak. A town to the west had already been evacuated.
Then came news of the deaths this afternoon of three firefighters. Four others were critically injured. They had been surrounded by flames and had to shelter in place. It's a miracle four survived.
On the way home I drove under the smoke plume of one of the fires in the Okanogan Complex fire. This is the same fire I have photographed from the other side at Fish Lake. Now I was on its leading edge as it continued to grow and move south and east. I stopped along the highway to take some photos.
I pulled off on the road I usually take up to Trout Lake. This is what it looked like Monday.
This is what it looked like Wednesday. All the homes and ranches up along the road have been evacuated.
I drove on north and pulled off on a road that goes into a housing subdivision to take a few more photos.
Shortly after I got home moreevacuation notices began to go out. The housing subdivision was in imminent danger, and people fled. Some friends of ours who live there are sheltering in Omak tonight. Then a small town five miles north of Omak was evacuated This fire from the northwest and another fire from the east had it surrounded. Then it was Omak Flats, an area of homes and ranches just north of Omak proper. Then the highway was shut down.
Our home is safe for the time being. The fires have been moving south, away from us and toward Omak. The weather calls for a cold front moving through tomorrow, with windy conditions and a chance for lightning, so conditions could change quickly. The key element is what direction the wind will be blowing.
I'll be monitoring things for awhile tonight. Our daughter Lidia and grandson Sebastian live in Omak, and I want to make sure that when and if Omak is evacuated they get out safe and sound. If the highway is open, I'll be there to get them and bring them home. If the highway is still closed, it will just take me a little longer.
The smoke plume was visible from the town bridge on Tuesday as I took the northern route to the lake.
I drove past Trout Lake and on to Fish Lake to check the fire status. The wind was still pushing the fire south and east away from the lake. That meant, though, that the front edge was moving steadily closer to populated areas. Homes were being evacuated along the road I usually take to the lake, and two towns would have immediate evacuation notices issued and then lifted before the day was over.
I drove back to Trout Lake and launched. The wind freshened for awhile, then gradually tapered off.
The lake was quiet again. I explored some shorelines with a muddler, tried some nymphs under an indicator, and cast out some little dries, all with no response. Mostly, though, I watched the smoke to the south.
At dusk a few fish came up. I managed to fool one on an elk hair caddis, but I had to be quick to hook him on his tentative take.
I had just released the fish when the smoke suddenly billowed into the evening sky. A blow-up was occurring. Soon flames were visible as the fire crowned in the tree tops. It looked like the fire was beginning its march straight up the valley to the lake.
I kept fishing, all the time making my way to the takeout. But I was intensely curious about what was happening.
I loaded up the tube but didn't take time to shuck my waders, and drove back south again. The fire wasn't moving up the valley, and was still located around Fish Lake. It had jumped to another mountain side and had exploded with the fresh fuel.
Across Fish Lake to the southeast the fire was still burning strong, prompting those evacuation orders.
I watched for awhile, then took my waders off in the glow of the flames, turned around, and started the long drive home.
