School Fire Blowup

School Fire Blowup, August 6, 2005This photo was taken from the Oregon Butte Fire LO in the Blue Mountains of Washington. The fire was reported to have started at an environmental learning center when a tree fell on a power line. Initially, the smoke plume, which is 8 miles away, was barely rising above the trees in the foreground. Shortly before the picture was taken, the flames crossed a river and began to race through dry timber. The lookout's radio was filled with evacuation commands and requests for reports on the fire's advance. The size grew to 50,000 acres and numerous structures were lost.