200 homes destroyed. 12,000 homes still threatened.
Over the weekend, the Okanogan Complex wildfire outburned last year’s giant Carlton Complex fire, making it officially Washington’s largest wildfire ever. Worse, it’s not anywhere close to containment. Yesterday, fire spokesman Rick Isaacson said these fires could keep burning until the rainy season.
“It’s only Aug. 24th,” he said. “In our district we could see this go clear to the first of November.”
We could see the smoke yesterday, all the way over here in Seattle. It hazed the sky and made us think about all those families who lost their homes. As real estate agents, we know full well the importance of home—and we know just how devastating it is to lose a home.
Home is security, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally, too. Home is a place of belonging and comfort. And it’s a financial investment—the most valuable thing most people own. To lose it in a fire is devastating. More than devastating.
We admire the firefighters working nonstop to contain the Okanogan Complex, and our hearts go out to all those left homeless.
The Okanogan Wildfires as seen from space. (Image from NASA)
The Seattle Times published an article about how to help those affected by the fires.
