Firefighters Fighting Five Big Fires In State Of Washington

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The state of Washington says five large fires and numerous smaller fires are stretching firefighting resources thin across the state.

The Department of Natural Resources says wildfires raging in other states have also pulled Washington firefighters and air resources to those states.

That's a problem as the number of human-caused fires continues to rise through a record-breaking summer of drought and high temperatures.

Large fires currently burning in the state include Cougar Creek, near Mount Adams; Wolverine, near Lake Chelan; Paradise, on the western border of Olympic National Park; Baldy, northeast of Colville; and Rutter Canyon, north of Spokane.

Numerous smaller wildfires pop up daily, which require immediate action by crews with engines and helicopters.

Most of Eastern Washington is under a red flag fire warning Thursday.