Fire Start near Monitor and Sleepy Hollow Bridge
Where I come from in the rural western US there are inevitably wildfires every summer to contend with. But in the last few years they seem to be greater in number, longer lasting, and more intense. Yesterday’s fire (June 28th, 2015) began near Monitor Washington, a small chimney of smoke I spotted early in the day, but didn’t worry too much. So unconcerned and used to fires I am, I decided to drive up to my friend’s house in the upper valley, past a wall of flame that was only stopped by the road and the river. On my way back I took these photos.
Air support flying over the fire near Monitor outside of Wenatchee.
Fire Crews heading towards Wenatchee from Monitor area.
Fire heading into Wenatchee, photo looking south into Wenatchee from Easy Street.
A chunk of fire debris that rained down all over town (photo taken the next day)- exploding from one fruit warehouse only to ignite more buildings downwind.
From a safe distance across the river I watched the Wenatchee firestorm- these are some of the photos taken with a tripod.
The crowd was out in full force to watch the show with me, many evacuees from their homes and worried workers of the fruit packing warehouses.
Flying chunks of exploding material can be seen in this photo which ignited other buildings, spread by the wind that seemed to kick up at just the wrong time.
“When the world ends
You’re gonna come with me
We’re going to be crazy
Like a river bends
We’re going to float
Through the criss cross of the mountains
Watch them fade to nothing
When the world ends
You know that’s what’s happening now
I’m going to be there with you somehow…” – Dave Matthews Band, When the World Ends
View from my backyard at about 11 PM. Thankfully there was a river between us and the fire.
Smouldering remains the day after the fire from across the Columbia River.
Mop-up of the fire the day afterward on some of the burned warehouses.
