The National Interagency Fire Center announced Monday that 200 active-duty military troops were being called in to help because many fires are burning across the West. The blazes near Chelan, about 180 miles east of Seattle, are burning through grass, brush and timber, fire spokeswoman Janet Pearce said. The air was clouded with smoke in Spokane, about 150 miles east of the Chelan fire, on Monday and will remain “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”Lots of tourists left Chelan after the fires broke out on Friday. A significant economic impact is estimated. “We’ll be welcoming visitors back here very shortly,” said Mike Steele, director of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce.
