Smoke from several wildfires continues to hang over the mountains of central and eastern Washington as firefighting helicopters work to contain the fires. Aerial footage shows thick plumes rising from forests while helicopters scoop water from a lake before returning to the fire lines.

National Guard crews are actively conducting water-dropping operations, and firefighters are reinforcing containment lines following a period of cooler weather that helped slow the spread of the fires. However, officials warn that hotter, drier, and windier conditions expected later this week could complicate firefighting efforts.

The fires around Spokane have destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Authorities have stated that all three major fires were started by people and remain under investigation.

Sources