OKANOGAN COUNTY, Wash. — Near the Okanogan Complex Fire is the Colville Reservation, where about 200,000 acres of land are burning and where tribal leaders say they aren’t getting the resources they need to save their land.
>> Okanogan Complex: This fire burns in Okanogan County, along with other fires in the county; several towns have evacuated. Click here for full Okanogan coverage.
Already, 19 homes and buildings have burned on the reservation.
“This has been very, very hard, and it’s been very difficult for our people,” said Kathy Moses, with Colville Confederated Tribes.
The reservation is just northeast of the Okanogan Complex Fire. In fact, part of that fire is burning on tribal land.
But a separate fire, the North Star Fire, is currently burning out of control on the Colville Reservation.
In total, some 200,000 acres are burning on the reservation, but only 441 personnel are fighting the North Star Fire.
>> PHOTOS: Wildfires wreak havoc in drought-choked Washington
“And in a fire so large, there should be at least 600 or more firefighters,” said Moses.
In comparison, some 244,000 acres are burning in the Okanogan Complex Fire, and more than 1,000 personnel are on hand to assist.
The North Star Fire is just 2 percent contained.
“Our people have lived on this land for hundreds of years, and it’s not like we can just get up and move. This is our home,” said Moses, with tears welling up along her eyelids.
For weeks, fire officials across Washington have warned about resources being stretched thin because of so many wildfires burning.
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