wildfires

Investigators name cause of Taylor Bridge Fire near Cle Elum

The Associated Press — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:04:55 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Department of Natural Resources has concluded that an August wildfire that caused $11 million damage was caused by sparks from welding or cutting work on a bridge southeast of Cle Elum.

The department on Monday released the results of its investigation into the Taylor Bridge Fire that destroyed 61 homes and blackened 36 square miles.

Drought, wildfires force ranchers to look for efficiencies

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:36:00 +0000

The people who raise cattle destined to become steak or hamburger on your dinner plate are feeling the pinch. Wildfires this summer have scorched more than a million acres of Northwest rangeland. In addition, the Midwest drought is driving up feed costs across the board.

Now ranches and feedlots are looking to cut their feed costs in the short term... And longer term, have an eye on making the cattle themselves more efficient.

The cost of feed is by far the biggest expense on the ledgers of most Western beef farmers.

After NW fires: Bring on the bugs

Jessica Robinson — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:33:34 +0000

Wildfires have already scorched more than one million acres across the Northwest this year. It may take years before the signs of the burns are no longer visible. But charred Northwest forests are already a-buzz with new life.

Burned forests are not quiet places.

“It’s very lively in the forest immediately after a fire," says Connie Mehmel. "Very lively. And a lot of that liveliness is insects.”

Mehmel studies insects for the U.S. Forest Service. She’s based in Wenatchee.

Campers evacuated as wildfires burn across Northwest

Chris Lehman — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 23:34:34 +0000

Two hunters who were reported missing during a wildfire in eastern Oregon have been located and are safe. But Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer says there's new concern about a pair of hikers who are thought to be in the vicinity of the Parish Cabin Fire.

Palmer says the hikers are from Portland and aren't thought to be in immediate danger. But he says they could end up stranded if the fire continues to spread.

"We've left message on their cell phones and we've left a note on their vehicle," Palmer says.

Wildfire in southern Idaho is growing quickly

Mark Memmott — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:57:31 +0000

Though firefighters have "gained ground on a number of wildfires across the West," they're having trouble in southern Idaho, The Associated Press reports.

There, winds have "fanned a fast-moving blaze across nearly 300 square miles of sagebrush and dry grass," the wire service says. The fire began Saturday.

Northwest firefighters play waiting game amid cooler weather

Jessica Robinson — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:49:02 +0000

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited Boise Tuesday . They toured the center that coordinates national wildfire response efforts.

Some firefighters from the Northwest have been sent to blazes across the West. But the firefighters still at home are playing the waiting game.

In Colorado, crews are approaching two weeks of battling the Waldo Canyon Fire.

Guns blamed for starting wildfires in parched West

The Associated Press — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:08:56 +0000

SPOKANE, Wash. — In the tinder-dry West, campfires, fireworks and even lit cigarettes are banned across public lands. Another fire-starting culprit, however, remains free of most restrictions: guns.

Firefighting planes battle wildfires and old age

Scott Graf — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 23:01:16 +0000

As wildfires continue to burn in the West, the U.S. Forest Service is going to battle this summer with fewer air tankers. The number of planes that drop retardant on fires has shrunk significantly over the past 12 years.

In Boise, Idaho, the shortage of air tankers has led to some unexpected repurposing of aircraft.

"This particular aircraft was used as Air Force One at one point," explains pilot Lyle Ehalt, standing next to his shiny white-and-green tanker at the Boise Airport.

Ehalt, who flew the air tanker over a nearby grass fire, says the plane used to carry President Gerald Ford.

'Epic' wildfire sends tens of thousands scrambling for safety in Colorado

Mark Memmott — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:46:21 +0000

"A firestorm of epic proportions" continues to threaten Colorado Springs, Colo., as more than 1,000 firefighters battle flames that by midday had forced more than 26,000 people to flee their homes.

It was local Fire Chief Rich Brown who called the inferno epic Tuesday night. Today, Lt.

Tim Egan author of 'The Big Burn' says effects still being felt

Glenn Mosley — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:56:29 +0000

The author of the 2009 bestseller, “The Big Burn,” says the famous 1910 fire that scored millions of acres in the Northwest still holds relevance for us today.

There weren’t always public lands in America, and there was a time when the Forest Service was on the chopping block in Congress. The future of both was impacted by the famous 1910 fire in north Idaho, western Montana, and eastern Washington.

Wildfire closes US Highway 97, forces evacuations in Wash.

The Associated Press — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:07:33 +0000

YAKIMA, Wash. — A wildfire has closed U.S. Highway 97 between Goldendale and Toppenish and is threatening about 30 homes.

High wildfire danger in Cascades, Olympics

The Associated Press — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:43:07 +0000

SEATTLE — The National Weather Service is warning of high wildfire danger over most of Washington's Cascades and Olympics.

Crews contain Port Townsend fire as temps rise

The Associated Press — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:53:56 +0000

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. — Fire crews have contained a wildfire that burned about 30 acres near Port Townsend.

Wildfire closes Highway 2 near Leavenworth

The Associated Press — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:37:45 +0000

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. – About 90 firefighters are working to contain a 100-acre blaze that is burning in steep terrain northeast of Leavenworth and has forced the closure of Highway 2.

Study: 'Intensive' thinning needed to best cut wildfire risk

Tom Banse — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:06:00 +0000

In the last ten years, the federal government and rural landowners have spent increasing sums of money thinning spindly trees and removing underbrush. The aim is to reduce risk from wildfire.

A new study by the Forest Service finds that tree stands need to be "intensively" thinned for that strategy to be effective.

Study co-author David Peterson of the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Seattle says a dense tinderbox forest before thinning could have more than a 1,000 trees per acre.