A Douglas County official says North County cattlemen suffered significant losses from the Barker Canyon and Leahy Fires. Commissioner Steve Jenkins says Governor Chris Gregoire is sending a staffer here to assess the damage. Commissioner Jenkins says the 90-thousand acre wildfire destroyed thousands of acres of rangeland and wildlife habitat.
The Governor's office will assess the economic and environmental damage prior to making a possible disaster declaration under which cattle ranchers can obtain financial compensation for their losses