tollywoodnbk : 1 dead Washington wildfires Continues to grow

Alex Rozier,Seattle-Tacoma,
Wash.
Firefighters man the front lines in the
Carlton Complex Fire in Central
Washington Sunday, July 20, 2014.

OKANOGAN COUNTY, Wash. —
As cooler temperatures and
lighter winds are forecast to
descend on wildfire-stricken
Washington state, one man has
died trying to save his home.
Rob Koczewski, 67, died of a
heart attack as he and his wife
fought to protect their Carlton
home. According to the
Okanogan County sheriff,
Koczewski was a retired U.S.
Marine and Washington State
Patrol trooper who was close
with local law enforcement.
Sheriff Frank Rogers said the
blaze, known as the Carlton
Complex Fire, is moving away
from populated areas and into
timber.
"Today was the first day I was
able to see the sun," Rogers
said.
By Sunday evening, flames
consumed more than 238,000
acres and burned 150
structures. There has been
extensive damage to power
lines in the fire's path.
Crews from across the country
have arrived in Central
Washington to fight the blaze.
It's estimated that 5,000 men
and women are on the fire
lines.
Flames are slowly moving closer
to Winthrop and Twisp, but the
towns aren't in immediate
danger. Twisp is under a Level
2 evacuation order, which
means people there need to be
ready to leave at a moment's
notice.
Saturday afternoon fire crews
had built a line east of the
highway between Winthrop and
Twisp, which seemed to be
holding. Crews also said they
had held the fire south of Libby
Creek and Benson Creek.