Rising temperatures and increased winds Thursday could cause the largest wildfire in Washington state history to grow even bigger. The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for the Okanogan Complex of fires, saying the weather conditions had the potential to spread the flames Thursday afternoon. “The heat coming back on us early is going to be a problem,” said Rick Isaacson, spokesman for the fire that grew to 450 square miles on Thursday. The blazes killed three firefighters last week, and have burned at least 40 homes and 40 outbuildings. Heavy smoke that had grounded aircraft this week lifted a bit Thursday morning and helicopters were able to drop water on the flames, Isaacson said. Aircraft were expected to drop retardant in the afternoon. More than 1,150 square miles of Washington are on fire, nearly the size of Rhode Island, the […]