Local News

Mudslides close roads, destroy homes

Associated Press

Aug 22, 2014

Mudslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain falling on wildfire-scarred areas of Okanogan and Methow Valleys damaged some homes, blocked portions of at least three highways and stranded motorists, officials say.

Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said he heard as many as ten of homes along State Highway 153 near Twisp were damaged. There were no reports of injuries from Thursday night’s storm.

By late Thursday night, the thunderstorms and rain had eased, the sheriff said. But rains were expected to return Friday evening, and could lead to more flash flooding. The National Weather Service says heavy rain amounts will be spotty but storms could drop a half-inch of rain in a short time.

Five to 12 vehicles were marooned on Highway 153 by mud and slides, Washington State Patrol Trooper Darren Wright said. Troopers and sheriff's deputies worked late Thursday night to get the people out.

While the Carlton Complex of wildfires that burned across more than 400 square miles this summer are in mop-up stage, about 500 people are still assigned to fight them and other nearby blazes. Flash flooding and strong winds hit the Carlton fire camp and incident command post Thursday night, the National Park Service reported. All workers were accounted for and reportedly had dry places to sleep.

More than an inch of rain was reported in one hour near Twisp, in an area burned by the Carlton fires, National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Fugazzi said.

"In those burned-out areas, every time we get a heavy rain" the flash flood risk exists, Rogers said. With the vegetation burned off the ground, "there's nothing to hold it, the water just sloughs off."

Mud and debris prompted the temporary closure of an 8-mile stretch of Highway 153 and a 25-mile section of State Highway 20, both in Okanogan County, the state Transportation Department said.

Wright said a small mudslide in nearby Douglas County blocked U.S. Highway 97 south of Chelan.