2015 Washington wildfires
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The 2015 wildfire season was the largest in Washington state history,[5] with more than one million acres (400,000 ha; 1,600 sq mi) burning across the state from June to September.[1] As many as 3,000 firefighters including 800 Washington National Guard members were deployed to fight the fires.[6][7] The 17th Field Artillery Brigade of the United States Army also deployed 200 soldiers from Joint Base Lewis–McChord to help fight the fires.[8]
2015 Washington wildfires | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Total fires | 1,541[1] |
Total area | 1,005,423 acres (406,880 ha)[1] |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 3[2] |
Non-fatal injuries | 4[3] |
Damage | $253 million [4] |
Season | |
← 2014
2016 → |
On August 21, President Barack Obama declared the fires a federal emergency.[citation needed] On August 24, the Washington Department of Natural Resources announced the Okanogan Complex fire had become the largest fire complex in Washington State history.[9]
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources called the season the "worst-ever" in the state's history.[10]