Heavy rains near Twisp, Washington have triggered flash floods and landslides on hills and ranches left charred by the Carlton Complex wildfire. Highways have been closed in Okanogan County and traffic has been rerouted.
Many people near Twisp have already lost homes, businesses, barns and livestock. A calf that had been burned in the wildfire is now feared lost in a flash flood. Canyons are entirely stripped of vegetation.
The rains came on very suddenly Thursday night and left a trail of damage, said Aaron Dunlap, who lives outside of Twisp.
“We are looking at the remnants of a road and a lot of refuse from water that came rushing down our valley. Lots of big boulders, and my car which is half buried in mud and sand,” Dunlap said.
Multiple mudslides were blocking roads, including State Route 153, and forcing residents from their homes. People near Twisp are trading information about slides and streams from canyon to canyon by Twitter, Facebook and cellphone.
