http://www.nwcn.com/news/Pateros-evacuated-Carlton-Complex-Fire-Okanogan-267646361.html
I'm in the middle of it trying to keep phones running
Thanks for letting us know. WOW OJ I sure hate to hear that. A couple friends from a Logging FB Group have been funneling info.
One of the things we really hope for is improvement in cell phone service as we are putting this fire distract together. We lost very valuable time last year trying to communicate with each other and the hot shots after they started to arrive. Our lines got so strung out and there is such need to know what is happening when things change or blow up.
You my friend stay safe - keep us informed...... BTW It is getting spooky dry here again as well. These low snow years sure are the pits. Wish there was something I / we could do to help other than pray and send good thoughts your way.....
Rick
http://www.inquisitr.com/1361200/washington-in-flames-wildfires-destroy-towns-heighten-emotions-in-okanogan-county/
Getting worse. Several members cabins in this area.
Thanks Rick -- my guys are in the danger zone too much but trying to hold them back is like trying to hold back a grizzly. They are determined to keep phone service working to people who are still in the burned out areas or returning. I've been working almost non-stop wit the chain of command and all our engineering and design support to try to keep our links out working. We've lost a LOT though and are just barely limping along. I did get phone service back to the area around Tonasket and Republic but we didn't get enough lines working or cell, just landlines and the 911 center and that's very limited.
Gotta get back in and try to see where we are at but I'm afraid this thing is going to burn all the way to the Canadian border. Yonderosa's place is in it's path if it jumps the river again and keeps going, Jaz's is probably in the fire now, at least two members have places in the fire zone now (can't remember which but no time to check)....it's crazy bad. THe whol town of Okanogan and Omak were in it's path as of midnight last night.
Wish us luck!
I wish everyone dealing with this dangerous fire season our very best wishes for light winds and new moisture.
Along with the Okanogan Valley there are now several areas of the eastern Cascade mountains under fire siege. Resources are being stretched to the limit.
I'm on the coastal side of WA state and apparently our cooler cloudy weather is to blame for pulling the westerly winds over the mountains. Check out this interesting weather blog if you have the luxury of time and a viable internet connection. http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/07/gusting-winds-result-in-explosive-fire.html
For those who are in the thick of it, stay cool headed and safe. This too will change.
John
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/07/19/3757880/damage-from-washington-wildfires.html
Thanks for that good update article and links to many good photos.
We are in the works now of turning up a link from Pateros to Brewster which will get us phone service back to Pateros, Twisp, Winthrop and Mazama.
The guys are working around the clock trying to keep peoples links to the world working after the fire passes through.
Frontier and Centurylink are working together to get links re-established as well as the local PUD...
The Bugg Road fire is 100% contained but Carlton is still only 16%
Western WA, at least on South Whidbey island, got a boatload of heavy rain and some thunderclaps earlier today. Hopefully some of that moisture made it over the hill. Very unusual weather for what is our dry season. 8)
Got dumped on today and that ought to help a lot!
But it seems the storm took out a cell tower...we're having a time out here!