Torrents of mud and debris have closed three roads near Wenatchee in central Washington. The landslides were caused by thunderstorms on Sunday, along with wildfire damage.
The mudflows have hampered firefighting efforts on the Mile Post 10 fire, which has grown to 6,000 acres since Friday. Some residents and fire trucks were stranded.
“If I lived up there, I’d be on vacation in Hawaii for about three weeks. And just leave it at that. If I could," said Rick Isaacson, a spokesman for Chelan Fire District 1.
Separately, crews have been battling the 80,000-acre Colockum Tarps fire since late July. The blaze is now mostly out.
Another flash flood left about 65 people stranded in the popular North Cascades National Park. Rangers are helping hikers who had to stay the night, and a temporary road is being constructed to let the stuck vehicles past.
