The Taylor Bridge wildfire which began on Monday near the small town of Cle Elum, Washington, has destroyed more than 23,000 acres, injured 2 firefighters, damaged more than 60 homes and forced over 400 people to evacuate.
America Is the Target; Israel Is the Front Line _ Andy Blumenthal _ The Blogs...
Wildfire burns more than 23,000 acres in Washington State
1. Wildfire Burns more than 23,000
acres in Washington State
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
2. Summary: The Taylor Bridge wildfire which began
on Monday near the small town of Cle Elum,
Washington, has destroyed more than 23,000
acres, injured 2 firefighters, damaged more than 60
homes and forced over 400 people to evacuate.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
3. (August 17, 2012) –An out of control wildfire that began on Monday,
August 13, continues to cause damage in Kittitas County, Washington
State. So far the Taylor Bridge Fire has destroyed more than 22,000 acres,
burned at least 60 homes, killed cattle and other livestock, and forced
the evacuation of more than 400 people near Cle Elum and Ellensburg.
Two firefighters battling the large blaze have also been injured, with one
suffering from dehydration and the other receiving burns to the face.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
4. Currently nearly 900 firefighters and support staff are assigned to the Taylor
Bridge fire, and have managed to get it about 33 percent contained. As a
result, some area residents to the south and east side of the 35–square–mile
burn zone have been told they could return home but are advised to be
prepared to leave again should conditions change. Returning residents should
be aware that major roads in the affected area remain closed including U.S.
Highway 97 at the state Route 970/Lauderdale junction, Highway 97 at
Ellensburg Ranches Road, and state Route 10 at the Highway 97 junction, as
well as several local roads.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
5. Fire officials emphasize that residents who enter the burned area should use
extreme caution. Power lines may have been damaged in the fire and have
become energized, making them extremely dangerous. Returning residents
who do not have electricity at their home should immediately report the
outage to either Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773 or Kittitas County
Public Utilities #1 at (509) 933-7200 as appropriate.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
6. While the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, officials believe
that welding sparks from construction on the Taylor Bridge and Highway 10
may have caused the fire. The situation is particularly dangerous because
Washington has had minimal fire activity the last few years, which means that
there is an abundance of dry vegetation in the forests and meadows. Dry
grasses to the north and east act instant tinder for the fire, magnifying the
danger to firefighters.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
7. Adding to the seriousness of the situation, the National Weather Service in
Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for continued very hot, dry and
unstable conditions over the next two days in the region of the fire.
Temperatures are expected to reach 90 to 100 degrees, resulting in an
increase in fire activity and a significant threat to structures in the area.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
8. The latest news and status updates about the Taylor Bridge Fire can be found at
http://access.wa.gov/ In addition to the official Washington State site, a number
of other websites are helping spread awareness of the dangerous Washington
wildfire both nationally and abroad. Among these is
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-
State/449889605042751, a Facebook fanpage that offers an online community
where people can share their thoughts and comments about the latest
Washington State news and events.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
9. "We feel it is very important to get the news out about this serious situation
which is affecting so many people in central Washington," notes page
administrator S.S. Ober-Lehn. "And Facebook's international appeal makes the
Proud to Be From Washington State fanpage a natural place for anyone
anywhere in the world who is concerned about the Taylor Bridge Fire in
Washington State to come together to discuss how we can best help those
whose lives have been disrupted by this disaster."
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
10. To find out more about current news and events
in Washington, please visit
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-
Washington-State/449889605042751
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Washington-State/449889605042751
