Firefighters Advance on Biggest Wildfire on Record in Washington State

"SEATTLE -- Firefighters gained ground on Tuesday against the largest wildfire in Washington state's history but the massive blaze that has destroyed 200 homes continued to threaten some communities and forced a fresh round of evacuations.

The Carlton Complex fire burning east of the Cascade Mountains and 120 miles (190 km) northeast of Seattle, was 16 percent contained on Tuesday, more than a week after it was sparked by lightning, officials said.

The massive blaze charred 243,000 acres, or 380 square miles (980 square km), the largest fire in the state's history, according to Larry Weaver, a spokesman for agencies working to contain the blaze."

Victoria Cavaliere reports for Reuters July 22, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Tinderbox Explodes in Wildfires Across Northwest" (New York Times)

"'Unprecedented' Spate of Wildfires Incinerates Homes And Forces Evacuations in Wash., Ore." (ClimateWire)

"1 Dead as Washington Wildfires Continue To Grow" (USA TODAY)

"Northwest Wildfires: More than 940,000 acres burn in Oregon and Washington" (Oregonian)