wildfires

Fire Season Predicted To Be A Scorcher This Year

Anna King — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:55:33 +0000

Several forest fires are already burning in Western Washington and crews are mopping up a big one in central Oregon. There were also two grass fires that burned near Middleton, Idaho just west of Boise, this past weekend.

Dry winds and above average temperatures predicted this summer and fall, have fire managers preparing for an earlier than usual season.

A high-pressure ridge since winter has dried the Northwest’s timberlands and big sage stands this spring.

Taylor Bridge Fire Likely Caused By DOT Contractors

editor — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:32:14 +0000

A massive fire that burned 61 homes in Central Washington was likely caused by Department of Transportation contractors. That’s the upshot of a report issued Monday by Washington’s Department of Natural Resources.

The aptly named Taylor Bridge Fire started August 13 right after transportation contractors did some welding work on that bridge. It happened near the mountain town of Cle Elum.

The report says it appears state contractors were using equipment that might not have been allowed given the low humidity, high temperatures, wind speed and time of day.

Washington Governor Extends Burn Ban, Declares State of Emergency

Patricia Murphy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:21:21 +0000

Dryer than normal conditions prompted Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to declare a state of emergency and extend a ban on outdoor fires. Outdoor burning is banned in all counties until October 15. The state is experiencing a rare stretch of dry weather.