As wildfires continue to blaze in the northwest, firefighters are being enlisted from all over the country to help. Locally, our own Castle Rock Fire Department has deployed a few of our own to work with efforts trying to contain the wildfires.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, “More than 28,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling wildfires across the West.” The count of wildfires has increased to 66, with a total of 1.7 million acres having burned.

One area that is getting our assistance is the Shasta–Trinity National Forest, River Complex in California. Over the past few weeks, three firefighters from Castle Rock’s fire engine crew have been working on containment of the 57,995-acre fire.

However, because of changes in wind direction and dry conditions, fighting the fire is nothing short of a difficult task. “This fire is three miles southwest of Denny, California,” said Castle Rock Fire Chief, Art Morales. “We are sending out a replacement crew tomorrow for another two weeks.”

Wildfires have also spread to Idaho, where Morales has likewise sent a department Lieutenant. They will be assisting a team in controlling the fire that is currently burning in the panhandle area.

And though the wildfires may be thousands of miles away, due to the magnitude of the area currently burning – and the resulting smoke – residents may have noticed local changes in visibility and air quality.

“In Castle Rock, people with existing respiratory problems should avoid being out in the smoky air,” Morales warns, “But changing weather patterns should clear things up in the next day or two.”