--- description: Hundreds of people have been displaced in the north-east part of the state title: Charred Earth: The Wreckage of the Washington Wildfires image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt534f5f115cc641f6/69869c89f983e7465f04ee8b/washington-wildfire-04.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [natural disaster](/tag/natural-disaster/) ## natural disaster Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Charred Earth: The Wreckage of the Washington Wildfires by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 21, 2014 6:03 PM CUT  Debris from a burnt structure is pictured near Alta Lake Golf Course after much of the surrounding area was consumed by the Carlton Complex Fire near Pateros, Washington on July 19, 2014. Debris from a burnt structure is pictured near Alta Lake Golf Course after much of the surrounding area was consumed by the Carlton Complex Fire near Pateros, Washington on July 19, 2014.David Ryder—Reuters by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 21, 2014 6:03 PM CUT It took thousands of firefighters Saturday and Sunday to battle a wildfire raging east of Washington state’s Cascade Mountains. The four-blaze Carlton Complex fire destroyed about 100 homes and displaced hundreds of people. The weekend inferno is the latest in a series of fires that have plagued the drought-ravaged west coast this summer. Area residents hope that forecasts for cooler weather this week will help quell the siege of flames, the Associated Press [reports](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/better-weather-aid-wash-wildfire-fight "undefined").  Debris from a burnt structure is pictured near Alta Lake Golf Course after much of the surrounding area was consumed by the Carlton Complex Fire near Pateros, Washington on July 19, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  A sign surrounded by scorched earth warns drivers of the high fire danger along US State Route 97 after it was hit by the Carlton Complex fire near Pateros, Washington on July 19, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  A damaged vehicle is pictured near Alta Lake Golf Course after it was consumed by the Carlton Complex Fire, which can be seen burning in the distance, near Pateros, Washington on July 19, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  Seen through the windshield of a burnt vehicle, Mim Morris (C) looks through the remnants of her home, which was destroyed by the Carlton Complex Fire, as her grandson, Sean Lafer (L), 12 , and daughter, Laura Lafer (R), join her near Malott, Washington on July 20, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  Mim Morris wipes her forehead as she looks through the remnants of her home, which was destroyed by the Carlton Complex Fire, as her grandson, Joel Lafer, 14, joins her near Malott, Washington on July 20, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  Deceased cattle, which fell victim to the Carlton Complex Fire, are pictured on ranch land near Malott, Washington July 20, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  Firefighters work in a field near a burnt fence that was hit by the Carlton Complex Fire near Brewster, Washington on July 20, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  Burnt trees and cars are pictured near Alta Lake Golf Course after much of the area was consumed by the Carlton Complex Fire near Pateros, Washington on July 19, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  Scorched trees are pictured after being burned by the Carlton Complex Fire near Malott, Washington July 20, 2014. David Ryder—Reuters  A burnt ATV lies in the road after the Carlton Complex Fire consumed an area near Malott, Washington on July 20, 2014. 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