The Washington State Department of Natural Resources Wildland Fire Division is anticipating a busy week of firefighting in the Cascades, as hot and dry conditions continue and dry lightning is predicted on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17.
DNR put a statewide burn ban in place on Wednesday, July 10. That means outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes and prescribed burns on all state forest lands are prohibited through Sept. 30. Burning is also prohibited in North Cascades National Park.
Fire crews are preparing for a “very sporty” week in the northwest corner of the state with the “potential for extreme fire behavior,” deputy supervisor for wildfire George Geissler said during a DNR town hall phone call on Monday, July 15. He added that air and ground resources will be positioned to respond immediately to ignitions.
The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for the west and north slope of the Cascades from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening, July 16-17, due to thunderstorms without precipitation and gusty outflow winds.
Currently, the largest wildfire in the state is the Pioneer Fire northwest of Lake Chelan. The fire is burning in mountainous, steep terrain and started on June 8. By July 15, it was at 18,700 acres, and an evacuation advisory has been issued for the Stehekin area.
DNR reports lightning ignitions are down considerably in 2024, with only six recorded as of Tuesday, July 9, compared to 49 total last year.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
