Local News

Lightning Storm Sparks Dozens of Wildfires

Okanogan Country Radio

Aug 02, 2013

A storm system that moved through North Central Washington wreaked havoc in Okanogan County on Thursday. Lightning strikes sparked dozens of wildfires now ranging in size from half an acre up to 500 acres. The Keystone fire burning east of Riverside is the largest at 500 acres this morning.

Officials had reports of 46 fires from 1:15pm Thursday to 8:45am Friday morning. Many of those fires have been contained but officials say there are still dozens of those fires burning here in Okanogan County. Those fires have been separated into three complexes, the Riverside, Methow and Aeneas Valley.

Local fire crews along with State and Federal firefighters were working to contain these blazes. The Okanogan County Communications Center was flooded with calls Thursday afternoon, receiving 283 calls, mostly between 1pm and 5pm.

Undersheriff Joe Somday said the fires burning near Riverside have prompted dozens of low-level evacuation notices.