Washington wildfires

Roads remain closed as crews gain handle on C-Line fire

Martha Kang — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:05:52 +0000

Fire crews were gaining a handle on the wildfire burning in the Capitol State Forest Tuesday.

At noon, the C-Line fire was at 70 percent containment at 80 acres, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Several roads and trails shut down by the blaze were to remain closed at least until the end of the day (see full list of closures).

Wildfire Awareness Week begins with 2 blazes burning in W. Wash.

Martha Kang and Anna King — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:39:00 +0000

Wildfire Awareness Week began Monday with record-breaking heat and crews working to contain two blazes that broke out over the weekend in Western Washington.

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.

Wildfire danger moves to western Washington, Oregon

The Associated Press — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:32:41 +0000

Dry east winds are bringing a higher risk of wildfires to most of western Washington and western Oregon.

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.

Northwest fire season overlapping with hunting season

Jessica Robinson — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:26:32 +0000

Evacuation notices around the Northwest have subsided as fire crews beat back the threat of wildfire to homes and subdivisions.

Officials have removed an alert near Sisters, Oregon, where the Pole Creek Fire is 80 percent contained. In Idaho, the Idaho County Sheriff lifted an evacuation order near the McGuire Complex in the Nez Perce National Forest. And crews at the Wenatchee Complex in Washington have been reduced by half since last weekend.

But a dry spell in the region has pushed fire season … into hunting season.

Firefighters gain upper hand on Northwest fires

Jessica Robinson — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:25:04 +0000

Firefighters are making progress on several massive blazes around the Northwest. In Oregon, the Pole Creek Fire near Sisters is around 70 percent contained. Crews in central Washington are getting the upper hand on the 53,000-acre Wenatchee Complex, where another blaze flared up yesterday. And in Idaho fire bosses report minimal activity at the Mustang Complex along the Idaho-Montana border.

Wenatchee graphic designer Dennis Weddle made t-shirts commemorating the 2012 fires for some local firefighters.

Surrounded by wildfires, Northwest schools try to keep smoke out

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:26:36 +0000

Wildfire smoke is becoming the “new normal” for some parts of the Northwest. In central Washington, health officials are urging residents to keep their doors and windows closed and stay inside. Bad air has forced at least one school district to take some unusual measures to keep class in session.

The town of Cashmere is at the geographic center of Washington –- and about 8 miles from one of the state’s largest wildfires. Cashmere schools closed last week due to hazardous air, both inside and outside classrooms.

Now, school is back in session.

Smoke creating vicious cycle in Northwest skies

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:33:07 +0000

The fight against numerous large fires in central Washington is turning the corner. Since the weekend, fire bosses have been able to release nearly 400 firefighters from the blazes near Wenatchee.

But forecasters say it may be a while before the Inland Northwest sees clear, blue skies again.

U.S. Forest Service researcher Miriam Rorig says smoke projections show poor conditions east of the Cascades hanging on through the week and spreading into north Idaho.

“With all the smoke in the air it sets up almost a negative feedback loop.

New evacuations as Table Mountain wildfire triples in size

KPLU and Associated Press — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 21:12:16 +0000

NBC News reports that new evacuations came Thursday as eight-inch chunks of burning bark were reported to have fallen in Mission Ridge. Those chunks were coming from an explosive fire inside the Table Mountain Complex some six miles away, a fire incident spokesman said.

The Table Mountain Complex of wildfires in Chelan and Kittitas counties has tripled in size to more than 47 square miles

Washington wildfire smoke closes schools

Tom Banse — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:16:39 +0000

A tree faller assigned to a wildfire burning north of Wenatchee has died. The U.S. Forest Service says the man became ill Monday afternoon from an unspecified cause. He was transported to a hospital where he later died.

Heavy smoke from multiple wildfires continues to fill valleys on the east slopes of the Cascades.

Firefighter dies while combating Washington wildfire

The Associated Press — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:03:59 +0000

WENATCHEE, Wash. – A firefighter assigned to a wildfire burning north of Wenatchee has died.

Agencies responding to the blaze say the firefighter became ill Monday afternoon and was transported to a nearby hospital where he died.

Video: Air-to-ground firefighting footage near Wenatchee

Jake Ellison — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:33:47 +0000

This 3-minute video (below) provides a unique perspective of the wildfire mission from a Washington Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter as it scoops up water with its 660 gallon bucket, flies through smoke-filled skies and drops it on the flames below, according to a press release from the Washington National Guard.

Fires continue to burn in central Washington

The Associated Press — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:07:07 +0000

SPOKANE, Wash. – Wildfires continued to burn in central Washington, aided by unseasonably warm temperatures.

Northwest wildfires not all bad for local economies

Colin Fogarty — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:54:07 +0000

Crews continue to make progress on several wildfires in central Washington. State health officials say the air is smoky enough around Wenatchee to be unhealthy for people with sensitive respiratory systems.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Oregon have been looking into the economic impact of large wildfires. Their findings indicated that there can actually be an upside to local economies.

Cassandra Moseley directs the U of O's Institute for a Sustainable Environment.