Posted by Willy-N [72.171.192.117] on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 22:31:51 :
In Reply to: Multiple Fire Fighter burn over! posted by Willy-N [72.171.192.118] on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 18:41:19 :
Local Guys;
TWISP – Three firefighters died this afternoon while fighting fire near Twisp.
#Four others were injured, Gov. Jay Inslee said.
#Details remain sketchy.
#Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers confirmed the deaths, but was not available for comment.
#Angela Seydel, a spokeswoman for the Okanogan County Department of Emergency Management, said she understands the firefighters were in the Twisp River fire area. No additional details were available.
#“I was just told that three firefighters died while battling the Twisp fire and four were injured,” Inslee said. “My heart breaks over the loss of life. I know all Washington joins me and Trudi in sending our prayers to the families of these brave firefighters. They gave their lives to protect others.”
#The governor’s office said no additional details were available.
#Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, who is in Okanogan County checking on fires, said the firefighters were from the U.S. Forest Service.
#“All of DNR is saddened by the loss of these brave USFS firefighters, who died while protecting our communities.”
#Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest spokeswoman Kathy Dowd said she had no additional information and did not know for sure to which agency the firefighters belonged.
#“It was their calling, but the loss for their families is immense and I know the community will come together to support them,” Inslee said. “We will also keep the injured firefighters in our prayers.
#“The conditions throughout the area remain extremely dangerous and I hope residents and visitors will heed evacuation orders or other emergency directions.”
#Twisp and Winthrop have been evacuated because of the rapidly moving fire, which erupted earlier in the day.
#Gov. Jay Inslee has requested a federal emergency declaration to provide additional resources to cover some costs related to multiple wildfires burning in Eastern Washington. Eleven counties and four tribes are affected or threatened by fire.
#The fires have destroyed more than 50 homes, 60 other structures and more than 235,000 acres of land.
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