3 firefighters died battling Washington state wildfire

Three firefighters were killed battling an explosive wildfire Wednesday in central Washington state, officials said.

The fast-moving inferno forced two towns to evacuate and overwhelmed U.S. Forest Service firefighters battling the 1,500-acre blaze near Twisp, Wash., KREM reported.



The deaths were confirmed by the Okanogan County Sheriff. He also said up to four others were injured, one critically, battling the wildfire.


"I was just told that three firefighters died while battling the Twisp fire and four were injured," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement. "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."

The firefighters were reported dead at 5:30 p.m.

Twisp and Winthrop were ordered evacuated as the blaze grew Wednesday night.


"They gave their lives to protect others," Inslee added. "It was their calling, but the loss for their families is immense and I know the community will come together to support them. 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."

Inslee also requested a federal Emergency Declaration late Wednesday to get more resources to battle the fires.

Eleven counties and four tribes have been impacted by fires, which have gutted 50 homes and 60 other structures while consuming more than 200,000 acres.

More than 300 National Guardsmen have been mobilized to help battle wildfires this season.

The town of Conconully, just east of Twisp, had also been evacuated.

TED S. WARREN/AP
Flames and smoke rise on a ridge line above a ranch on Twisp River Road in Twisp, Wash., Wednesday.
Angela Seydel, a spokeswoman for the Okanogan County Emergency Management department, said Wednesday evening that 4,000 homes in the region had been evacuated.

"It is really bad out there. The fires have just exploded," she said. "We're just directing everybody to head south."

A stream of cars poured south out of Twisp on as dark smoke clouds loomed; the highway to the north was closed. Some people put sprinklers on their roofs in an effort to protect their homes, and others joined gas lines several cars deep.