'Fire safety is everyone's responsibility'

May 6-"We could have hundreds more firefighters and hundreds more pieces of equipment, but nothing is going to change, unless people clean up their properties and understand how dangerous wildfires are, that's where the difference is going to be made."

Ephrata Fire Department Chief Jeremy Burns

SOAP LAKE - A weekend structure fire in Soap Lake is offering an early warning for what fire officials say could become a severe wildfire season across central Washington, as May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month and agencies urge residents to take prevention seriously.

A close call in Soap Lake

Grant County Fire District 7 crews were called Saturday to a home where a resident was burning weeds with a propane torch - a legal activity inside city limits - but one that quickly turned dangerous. Dry leaves around the house ignited, flames climbed the porch and the fire spread into the attic, according to Chief Erick Brittain. With neighboring residences just two feet away, firefighters feared the blaze could jump from home to home.

Brittain said the home's resident had no water source nearby, a key factor in how quickly the fire escalated.

"It is unseasonably dry right now," Brittain said. "If he had a source of water available while he was burning his weeds with the torch, the outcome would have been a little bit different."

Crews knocked the fire down before it spread to adjacent structures. No injuries were reported, but Brittain said the incident - along with a brush fire Tuesday morning caused by burning garbage - reflects how quickly conditions are worsening.

"We're seeing the predictions come true," he said. "It's unusual to have our first wildland incidents this early, but here we are."

Wildfire Awareness Month arrives amid rising risk

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to educate residents about wildfire danger and the steps they can take to protect their homes and communities. The Washington Department of Natural Resources says 80% to 90% of wildfires in the state are human caused.

"No one is immune from the impacts of wildfire," Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said in a statement. "Even basic measures like providing defensible space - clearing needles and dry leaves from your roof, moving firewood 30 feet away from structures, or clearing out intrusive undergrowth - can help protect our homes."

DNR Eastern Washington Communications Manager Ryan Rodruck said the agency is already watching early indicators, including drought conditions and historically low snowpack. But he said it's still too early to predict the severity of the season.

"We're technically still in spring," Rodruck said. "We'll have a better handle around Memorial Day, but right now it's too early for the crystal ball."

Still, he said the message remains the same: prepare now.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Rodruck said. "Those small tasks that seem small now can make a big difference later on."

Local fire districts already seeing activity

Across Grant County, fire districts are reporting an uptick in early-season wildfires. Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns said his department has responded to more wildland calls in the past week as temperatures rise and fuels begin to dry.

"Our bigger fires used to arrive in July," Burns said. "Today, it seems like our bigger fires are arriving in May and stretching almost into October."

Burns said the county's annual burn restrictions begin June 1, but residents should already be cautious. He emphasized that defensible space - clearing debris, trimming vegetation, and removing combustible materials - is the most effective tool homeowners have.

"We could have hundreds more firefighters and hundreds more pieces of equipment, but nothing is going to change, unless people clean up their properties and understand how dangerous wildfires are, that's where the difference is going to be made," he said.

Burns said residents should keep at least 30 feet of cleared space around homes, maintain clean roofs and gutters, and ensure trees and shrubs are trimmed at least five feet away from structures. Vehicles, boats and campers should not be parked in tall grass.

Burning rules and enforcement tighten

Brittain said his district will take a firmer stance on illegal burning this year. Burn barrels remain illegal statewide, and burning is prohibited within Soap Lake city limits and the Lakeview urban growth area.

Even legal burns must follow strict rules: piles no larger than four by three feet, at least 25 feet from structures, no burning at night, no burning in winds above 10 mph, and a water source must be present.

"We will be issuing invoices for second offenses during the burn ban," Brittain said. "Fines can start at $250 and go up to $2,000 if an illegal burn creates an incident."

Burns said enforcement is necessary because one person's mistake can endanger entire neighborhoods.

"Fire safety is everyone's responsibility," he said. "One person's poor choice can have devastating consequences for people's lives and properties."

State and federal agencies stress prevention

DNR's wildfire prevention guidance includes clearing pine needles from eaves, removing overhanging limbs, relocating firewood piles, and ensuring campfires are fully extinguished. Rodruck said embers can travel up to five miles, making unattended campfires a major risk.

"If you choose to have a campfire, make sure it is dead out, cool to the touch, before you leave or go to sleep," he said.

The U.S. Department of Energy also warns that wildfire impacts extend far beyond flames. Between 2016 and 2020, the federal government spent an average of $2.5 billion per year on fire suppression on federal lands alone. Smoke exposure can cause respiratory problems, worsen chronic health conditions and disproportionately affect low-income residents who work outdoors or lack air filtration systems.

DOE encourages residents to create emergency plans, assemble wildfire evacuation kits, and stay updated through local alerts and the FEMA app.

A season shaped by weather - and people

While weather patterns will influence the severity of the season, Burns said human behavior remains the most important factor.

"We live in a wildfire world anymore," he said. "It takes a lot of resources to put out fires, and a lot of people's time. In Grant County, we're served mostly by volunteer firefighters - people leaving their jobs and homes to help their neighbors."

Rodruck said the best way residents can support firefighters is by reducing the risks around their own homes.

"Anything you can do to harden your home not only keeps you and your neighbors safe, it makes it easier and safer for firefighters," he said.

A warning before summer

For Brittain, Saturday's structure fire is a reminder of how quickly a small flame can become a major incident.

"It had the potential of igniting the whole city block," he said. "Everyone did an excellent job, but we need people to follow the rules. It's extremely dry, and we're seeing fires earlier than ever."

Officials across the region say the message is simple: prepare now, act responsibly and stay aware.

"We can all be one less spark," Upthegrove said.

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