Firefighters battle to turn back flames

SPOKANE, Wash. — Calmer winds and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to go on the offensive Monday against a destructive wildfire that has charred hundreds of square miles of terrain in Washington state and is the largest in state history.

The Carlton Complex of fires in north-central Washington has burned 379 square miles of terrain, fire spokesman Andrew Sanbri said Monday. That would make it the largest wildfire in the state since record keeping started.

“There is optimism in the air, but we don’t want to give the impression that all is good,” Sanbri said. “Things are improving.”

The fire was just 2 percent contained Monday. More than 1,600 firefighters are battling the flames, assisted by more than 100 fire engines.

At 243,000 acres, the Carlton Complex was larger than the Yacolt Burn, which consumed 238,920 acres in southwestern Washington in 1902 and was the largest fire in state history, according to HistoryLink.org, an online resource of Washington state history.

Firefighters said they would aggressively protect some houses near Libby Creek on Monday by keeping the flames from jumping the creek, Sanbri said. Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers estimates that 150 homes have been destroyed already, but suspects that number could be higher. The fire is being blamed for one death.

The forecast for Monday and Tuesday called for lighter winds and lower temperatures, said Spokane-based National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Koch.

Then on Wednesday a “vigorous” front is expected to cover Washington, bringing rain to much of the state. But it will also bring lightning, he added.

“The benefits of the system are still up in the air,” Koch said. “We may get some rain where we need it, but we may also experience some lightning that could cause some new ignitions.”

The fire has created smoky conditions and reduced air quality in much of eastern Washington and northern Idaho.

Rogers said one man died of an apparent heart attack while fighting the fire near his home. Rob Koczewski, 67, was stricken on Saturday while he and his wife were hauling water and digging fire lines. Rogers said Koczewski was a retired Washington State Patrol trooper and U.S. Marine.

Many towns in the scenic Methow Valley remain without power and have limited landline and cell phone service.

Stephen Brashear / Getty Images Rich Pitkethly and Randy Loucks dig through the remains of a home destroyed by a wildfire in the town of Pateros, Wash. The Carlton Complex of fires has burned 243,000 acres.