BRAD CAIN
Associated Press Writer
MONUMENT, Ore. (AP) -- Marine and Army battalions have been called up to join more than 20,000 firefighters who are toiling in sweltering heat and rugged terrain as they try to stave off wildfires raging throughout the West.
The deployment of about 1,000 troops represents the latest attempt to turn back fires that were burning Friday on more than a half-million acres in 10 Western states and pushing toward the doorsteps of several communities.
``Our primary concern is getting additional crews,'' said David Widmark of the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland.
The National Interagency Fire Center said 21,000 firefighters were fighting 42 major fires in the West. Oregon bore the brunt, with 11 fires burning on 270,000 acres.
``We've had problems with rattlesnakes and rocks rolling down the hill,'' said Clyde Zoeller, a spokesman at the firefighters' command post near the small town of Monument, where residents were told to brace for a possible evacuation. ``You're losing water by the second. You can't drink enough water.''
The West has had 2,233 new fires covering 641,410 acres since Saturday, the center said. The acreage accounts for a quarter of everything burned in 2001.
Two fires encroached on three tiny towns 30 miles from each other in northeastern Oregon -- Monument, Dale and Ukiah. Monument residents gathered for a town meeting Thursday night to learn more about the 12,000-acre blaze.
Posing a question on the minds of all of Monument's residents, 79-year-old Betty Maynard asked, ``May we safely assume there's no danger tonight?''
``You are not in imminent danger. We are not there yet,'' replied Jim Ziobro, a team leader of the fire crews battling the wildfire that had flanked Monument.
But residents were told an evacuation could happen if a cold front moves in and kicks up wind that would fan the flames.
Erratic wind occasionally whipped the flames into small tornadoes of fire Thursday, although more than 700 firefighters managed to hold off the blaze.
``We're doing OK for now,'' said firefighter Andy Parker, who was covered with soot and sweat as he took a break on the fire line outside town. ``But that can change in a minute.''
Oregon's neighbor to the north has also experienced its share of fire trouble. Nearly 60,000 acres have burned in the drought-ridden woods and grasslands of eastern Washington since Saturday, all in fires started by lightning strikes.
As many as 100 homes were in the path of a wildfire near Leavenworth, a popular north Cascades tourist town. Fires prompted officials to order some homes, cabins and backcountry areas to be evacuated.
Twelve hikers were airlifted to safety, including a group of four backpackers who were plucked from the wilderness despite warnings of the danger two days earlier.
``We were prepared to hike out,'' said Mike Kanaga, who was rescued along with his wife, daughter and a family friend. ``When we got up to Asgard, the helicopter landed and told us there was no way out.''
Kanaga said they were reluctant to dump all their provisions and leave after the initial warning.
``When we tell people there's a danger, that's exactly what we mean,'' said Chelan County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Fields.
The Army and Marine battalions both will be sent to wildfires in Washington, said Ellen Weston of the coordination center in Portland. A battalion has between 400 and 600 troops.
Elsewhere, a 5,600-acre fire in southern Oregon burned on the Rogue River National Forest in the Siskiyou Mountains.
In Nevada, a complex of fires burned on 74,000 acres near the town of Midas, where two strike teams with engines were stationed to protect the community.
Northern California's largest blaze, a fire 50 miles north of Susanville, was contained at 67,700 acres and some of the 900 firefighters were being demobilized for much-needed rest.
Wildfires also were burning in Arizona, Idaho, Oklahoma, Montana, Texas and Wyoming.
