VIDEO: A wildfire burning in Central Washington is now the No. 1 priority fire in the nation. The Little Giant Fire burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is being fought by crews from all over the world, with nearly 1,900 personnel assigned to it.
About 70 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand are assigned to the fire, along with National Guard members, U.S. Army soldiers and others. For those crews, the scale of what’s unfolding in Central Washington has been eye-opening.
“The terrain and the scale of what is happening over here is pretty astronomical,” said Cameron Grylls with the New Zealand Foreign Emergency Team. Grylls said his crews have spent nearly two weeks working along local crews, trying to tame the fire that has burned nearly 150,000 acres and remains 23% contained.
“I think the [firefighters] are really humbled and privileged to know how many communities are affected and the effect it is having on people’s lives,” he said. Along with the nearly 1,900 personnel, a total of 80 fire engines, 20 dozers, 34 water tenders and eight helicopters are involved in battling the Little Giant Fire.
KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle
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