State’s wildfire risk escalates ahead of warm weekend
The state Department of Natural Resources is warning Washington that wildfire risks are rising alongside the region’s unseasonably high temperatures.
This warning and at least one local brush fire follow the National Interagency Fire Center’s prediction that the Pacific Northwest should prepare for a busy fire season. At the end of April, a brush fire in Rochester temporarily closed Highway 12 and Old Highway 9 while DNR brought the situation under control. That fire was sparked by a passing train.
The National Weather Service is forecasting clear skies and temperatures that peak at 86 degrees in Thurston County. It predicts daytime temperatures will not dip below 70 degrees until Tuesday, when there’s a chance of rain. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz says that above-average heat will amp up the risk for fires.
“Fire season is here. These hot temperatures can rob our forests of moisture, setting the stage for more wildfires,” Franz said in a press release.
“While we can’t do anything to stop fires started by natural causes, we all play a role in preventing wildfires while enjoying the outdoors. Make sure to douse your campfires, don’t park in dry grass and tighten tow chains so they don’t drag on roadways.”
This weekend’s high temperatures come at the tail end of an April that saw regional temperatures “much above average,” according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The state Department of Ecology said it was “the fourth driest March since 1895.”
Thurston County is among a large band of counties across the state where DNR has increased wildfire danger levels from “low” to “moderate.”
While Thurston County has not imposed a burn ban on recreational lands at this point, six counties to the south -- Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties -- banned burning debris as of Wednesday.
Campers planning to visit any of those six counties this weekend should check with local campground hosts, DNR says, before lighting a campfire.