Smoke drifting east...
We have a deluge of "news" at our fingertips 24/7, so it's easy to assume the most current information is just a few taps away. Trying to find the latest, most accurate news on the fire has been a wake-up call for this librarian-- and I have a computer, smartphone, radio and television!
The Methow Valley's power grid is severely damaged, so you can imagine what they're up against over there trying to get information. The rumor mill must be churning.
Then a couple of days ago, the Carlton Complex Fire official information blog appeared out of nowhere:
CLICK HERE.
Bless the bloggers of the world. This should be helpful, at least for folks who still have Internet cell phone service in the Valley. It will probably be weeks until electricity is completely restored.
There is more optimism today because potentially wet weather is giving firefighters a small window to make real progress. The Carlton Complex has burned about 379 square miles, making it the largest wildfire in the state since record-keeping started. The concern is lightening strikes starting more new fires. We're starting to see sad footage of destroyed homes and wildlife wandering in the charred wasteland. Fortunately, no structures have burned in Twisp or Winthrop.
There's a dense, smoky haze everywhere east of the Cascades, and the fire effects are being felt over 1,000 miles away, giving the air in Minneapolis a frosty haze. In Seattle, just some unusual and spooky light right at sunset.
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