Gregoire Promises More State Resources to Fight Wildfires

ASSOCIATED PRESS -Gov. Chris Gregoire has visited a firefighting camp in Wenatchee and promised more state resources to help crews working to contain wildfires burning across Eastern
Washington. Earlier Thursday, the governor signed an emergency declaration for
all the state's counties east of the Cascade Mountains. Resources authorized by
that proclamation include National Guard helicopters. A Chinook helicopter is
able to deliver a 2,000-gallon water bucket. Gregoire pledged two National Guard
helicopters promptly and two more soon. She noted that the availability of
firefighting resources in Washington and nearby states is extremely limited due
to existing firefighting efforts.  She says state Lands Commissioner Peter
Goldmark called her to ask for additional helicopters to help fight the fires.
Gregoire says she's "very concerned" about containing the fires that have forced
several hundred people from their homes.