Showing posts with label wildfires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildfires. Show all posts

Shoreline fire crew headed for California wildfires

Friday, September 13, 2024

Headed for California wildfires
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

A crew from Shoreline Fire is headed down to Southern California to help on their three large wildfires.

Lieutenant Mentzos, Driver Engineer Linke, and Firefighters Katz and Lindgren left Thursday morning to join up with other Washington State Strike Teams!


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North Cascades highway reopens after fires and mudslide

Friday, August 23, 2024


SR 20 North Cascades Highway reopened on August 22, 2024 between Granite Creek and Easy Pass trailhead (milepost 148-157) after having been closed since August 4 for fire activity and then a mudslide.

Before you start your engines, a few things to know:
  • Fire crews continue to work in the area in response to the Easy Fire and a 35 mph advisory speed zone has been posted between milepost 150 and 154.
  • Please do not pull over or attempt to pass through this area and remain alert for fire and maintenance vehicles exiting and entering the roadway.
  • Beginning 7am on Monday, August 26, there will be flagger-controlled traffic with a pilot car between milepost 150 and 154 so maintenance crews can continue to clear basins and restore drainage. The road will remain open without a pilot car during non-working hours.
Thank you to our crews for all of their work to clear ~7,000 tons of material after a mudslide buried sections of the road on Aug. 11 following a rainstorm.


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Update on state wildfires

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Photo courtesy Dept of Natural Resources

From Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz

We’ve been at a Preparedness Level (PL) 5 now for just over a month. A PL 5 only happens every few years. This means catastrophic levels of resource imbalance exist between the supply and demand for firefighting needs.

Better to respond to every small fire...
Photo courtesy DNR

In Washington, we’ve been fighting an incredibly high level of fires in every corner of the state. At Washington State Department of Natural Resources, we believe that it is safer, easier and cheaper that we do everything we can to put out a half acre new start than trying to get around it when it’s 10,000+ acres. 

than to wait until it is a very large fire
Photo courtesy DNR

For the last two years and so far this year we’ve been able to keep 95% of these fires below 10 acres. The key reasons for our success are:
  1. we utilize full suppression and initial attack for all wildfires; 
  2. we increased our aviation resources to 44 this year— the most ever knowing;
  3. we moved our aviation contracts to exclusive use after 2020 so we would always have these air resources when we needed them;
  4. we passed legislation that enables a local fire district to make direct request to us for air resources so there is no delay because time is everything between keeping a fire small and letting it get large;
  5. we secured funding necessary to increase firefighters, ground resources, new technologies and air craft, and the people critical to making it all work and keeping our firefighters and communities safe; and
  6. we have an amazing team of local, state and federal public servants risking their lives and working tirelessly to protect our families and communities.
Planes drop fire suppressant on fires and
float planes use buckets to scoop water from lakes

With a few months remaining of our wildfire season, you can help us continue to keep everyone safe. It’s actually really simple: 1) Don’t start campfires, 2) be careful with your yard and farm equipment, 3) don’t park on dry grass, 4) check your vehicles so nothing drags that can cause sparks, and 5) report wildfires as soon as you see them. Our team will be immensely grateful if you can do your part to prevent any more fires.


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State Lands Commissioner reports 3300 lightning strikes in 24 hours

Sunday, August 18, 2024

State Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz says 

"We needed the rain, but not the lightning. What a show but definitely didn’t need the fire starts it brought. 

"Our firefighters, aviation pilots, dispatchers and all the teams that support our firefighters and first responders behind the scenes are working around the clock to contain the large fires on our landscape and put out all the new starts on initial attack so they don’t grow."

Over 3300 lightning strikes in 24 hrs sets a new record this year.

Fires on state lands along the Cascades.

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Shoreline fire crew on the Rim Fire has returned home

Sunday, August 11, 2024

Rim Fire, Lassen County CA
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Shoreline Fire has several wildfire crews deployed to the various wildfires in the western United States.
 
Shoreline firefighters were assigned to the Rim Fire
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

These firefighters have special training in fighting fires in forests with uneven terrain and shifting winds that can suddenly bring a wall of flames down upon you.

Fire crews battling the Rim Fire in California
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

The photos are from the Rim Fire in Lassen County, California which started July 13, 2024 with a lightning strike. It burned over a thousand acres and is now %100 contained.

All Shoreline crews are safely home now.

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North Cascades Highway to close as fire burns right up to the roadway

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Screenshot from WSDOT video
WINTHROP – An increase in fire activity on the Easy Fire will close SR 20/North Cascades Highway between Granite Creek and Easy Pass trailhead at 8am Sunday, August 4, 2024.

Pilot cars guided traffic through until 8:30pm Saturday.

The Easy Fire started July 16 near the Easy Pass trailhead. In the last 24 hours, fire activity has increased near the roadway, and this section of the road will be closed for the safety of the traveling public and the fire response crews. 

There are no detours on U.S. Forest Service roads.

Road closure information is posted in the WSDOT real-time travel center, @wsdot_east and @wsdot_north on X/Twitter and updates will be provided as available. 

Wildfire information can be found by visiting the Washington State Department of Natural Resources wildfire incident information webpage.


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WSDOT: Help prevent brush fires and larger wildfires

Sunday, July 21, 2024

The primary roadside fire risks include burning material, such as a discarded cigarette or a firework; a blown tire or other malfunction that causes sparks; and inadvertently dragging chains over the roadway. 


The heat from the bottom of a vehicle also can start a fire just by driving over dry grass.

Here’s how you can help prevent roadside fires:
  • Never throw a cigarette or any lit or flammable material from a vehicle.
  • Check the air pressure in your tires to help prevent a blowout.
  • Ensure chains are not dragging when towing a heavy load or an RV.
  • Use battery-operated lighted cones or reflective triangles if broken down instead of a lit flare.
These and other small actions can make a difference in preventing a roadside fire from starting in the first place.

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Wildfire season has begun

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Current wildfires in Washington
The Slide Ranch fire burning within the Yakama Reservation has claimed 16 homes and scorched over 3,000 acres. 

The Pioneer fire in Chelan County has burned over 4,000 acres. 

They are the first destructive wildfires of the season, but they’re unlikely to be the last. 

The state Department of Natural Resources maintains a map of all active wildfires within the state. 

The Washington Smoke Blog charts smoke conditions statewide and reports related air quality hazards.


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Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz: 95% of DNR fires kept under 10 acres

Friday, October 27, 2023

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz 

From Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz 

I’ve heard people on the westside say, “Wow, we got lucky this fire season.”

In fact, the numbers tell a different story. Washington saw 1,880 ignitions — the second-most in state history. But only 165,365 acres burned — well below our 10-year average of 472,812 acres. For comparison, in 2015 we had around 2,000 fires and one million acres burned.

So, no, it wasn’t luck that left us with blue skies most of the year. 

It was leadership — from local fire districts, from within my agency, from investments we’ve made in aviation, personnel, and ground resources, from our move from 8 Vietnam rotors to having exclusive control of 40 air resources that we pre-positioned throughout our state, so we could be on the fire in 15-30 minutes.

Our ability to keep 95% of DNR fires under 10 acres is a testament to our firefighters and our emphasis on initial attack – getting on fires early and often with planes and helicopters – so that we keep fires small. 

Kodiak plane at DNR facility
Photo courtesy Dept of Natural Resources

And our investments in new technologies like our Kodiak and partnership with Pano AI and T-Mobile which are giving us the ability to spot these fires more quickly.

It is a testament to the positive impacts of our forest health work, having restored already 500,000 acres in 6 years, making Washington’s forests more able to withstand wildfire’s flames.

And it’s a testament to our community resiliency work, and the Wildfire Ready Neighbors program we launched helping homeowners take steps to both harden their property to wildfire and help firefighters get around fires faster and more effectively.

It’s a testament to our All Hands, All Lands, All Together approach.


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FBI seeking information about people unaccounted for in Maui Wildfires

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Lahaina was destroyed by a wildfire on Maui.
The remainder of the island is untouched.
Photo courtesy WA Secretary of State

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Honolulu Field Office is assisting Maui Police Department (MPD) with the identification of unaccounted for individuals who may have been impacted by the wildfires that occurred on Maui on August 8, 2023.

The Maui Police Department has released the names of those still unaccounted for, as well as a reference number that is listed alongside the name, and has asked the public to assist in information related to the unaccounted for individuals.

FBI Honolulu is seeking information pertaining to individuals who have been identified as still unaccounted for.

If you have information to provide about a listed unaccounted for person; or you are related to an unaccounted for person and would like to provide a DNA sample; or if you would like to report a person who is still unaccounted for and could be a potential victim of the wildfires but is not yet listed, please fill out the questionnaire as completely as possible.

Important: If you are aware of anyone who is still unaccounted for, whether they are on the published list or not, please contact Maui Police Department at (808) 244-6400 to complete a missing persons report.

Request for DNA
  • If you are local to Maui and able to provide a DNA sample, please do so at Maui County’s Family Assistance Center located at the Hyatt Regency at 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Lahaina, HI 96761 between 10am and 8pm. 
  • If you live outside of Maui and would like to submit a DNA sample, please fill out this questionnaire and someone from the FBI or MPD will contact you.

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Wildfires: Yellepit Fire in Benton county at 2,000 acres, threatening crops, power infrastructure, and the BNSF mainline

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Benton County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Yellepit Fire located in Benton County, near the town of Finley. 

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on September 2, 2023, at 8:15am at the request of Fire Chief Lonnie Click, Benton County Fire District 1.

The Yellepit Fire started on September 1, 2023, at approximately 6:18pm. This fire is estimated at 2,000 acres and growing. It is burning in grass and brush and is threatening crops, power infrastructure, and the BNSF mainline. 

No evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.


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Another smoky day in Shoreline

Sunday, August 27, 2023

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Another smoky day in Shoreline. This was Saturday afternoon, August 26, 2023 overlooking  Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. The smoke wasn't thick but it was in a layer low to the ground. On Thursday, Shoreline had smoke and Edmonds had clear skies.

--Diane Hettrick


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Shoreline firefighters return from Maui

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Photo courtesy Pierce County Fire

Two Shoreline firefighters are among the Pierce County crew being greeted at SeaTac after returning from Maui.


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Guess what's back?

Thursday, August 24, 2023

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Sunset on Thursday, August 24, 2023 and the mountains are gone again. I'm going to have to start following Canadian wildfire reports. For a long time, British Columbia had few large wildfires. Now that they are reporting some large fires, we are getting smoke in Puget Sound. Coincidence? I think not.

WeatherWatcher Carl Dinse says "Smoke expected to last through the weekend. Thunderstorms possible tomorrow morning through afternoon."

--DKH


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Shoreline Fire crew assisting at the Gray Fire at Medical Lake in Spokane country

Shoreline crew doing whatever it takes at the Gray Fire
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Shoreline Fire sent their
brush truck with three members and one of our engines with four members to the Gray Fire in Medical Lake.

They have been on site since Monday, August 21, 2023. They are doing everything from structural protection, cutting fire lines, to taking care of animals.


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What a difference a day makes

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

What a difference a day makes! The winds finally did their job and gently swept out the smoke from our part of Puget Sound.



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Scene on the Sound: Air quality alert extended into Monday

Monday, August 21, 2023

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park Sunday evening 
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

There is an air quality alert in effect for King County until noon on Monday. This is the second extension, so hope for a nice, strong wind to sweep out the wildfire smoke.

No Olympics, no Puget Sound
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

We had the dubious distinction of having the worst air quality in the nation on Sunday. Lake Forest Park was clear in the morning but joined the rest of Sound in the afternoon.

View of Edmonds - Kingston ferry
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Same view as above but in the afternoon
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Ah - take a nice deep breath of the bracing sea air! This wasn't the only pleasure boat out on the Sound on Sunday.

Photo by David Walton
A lone paddler ignored the smoke and rode the path of the sun.

--Diane Hettrick


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Wildfires: Gray Fire in Spokane County threatening medical facilities

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Spokane County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Gray Fire located in Spokane County, near the town of Medical Lake. 

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 18, 2023, at 2:45pm at the request of Fire Chief Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3.

The Gray Fire started on August 18, 2023, at approximately 12:00pm. This fire is estimated at 200 acres and growing. It is burning in grass, timber, and wheat and is threatening homes, crops, Eastern State Hospital, Lakeland Village, Highway 202, and the town of Medical Lake. 

Levels 2 and 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.

LEVEL 1:  GET READY
LEVEL 2:  GET SET
LEVEL 3:  GO!


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Wildfires: Winona Fire in Whitman County - 5000 acres of grass and brush - threatening structures - Level 3 evacuations

Whitman County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Winona Fire located in Whitman County, near the town of Winona.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 18, 2023, at 4:15pm at the request of Fire Chief Keith Luft, Whitman County Fire District 6.
 
The Winona Fire started on August 18, 2023, at approximately 2:31pm. This fire is estimated at 5000 acres and growing. It is burning in grass and brush and is threatening cropland, rangeland, and primary and secondary structures.  Level 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.

LEVEL 1:  GET READY
LEVEL 2:  GET SET
LEVEL 3:  GO!


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Wildfires: Oregon Fire in Spokane County - 2000 acres burning - Level 3 (GO!) evacuations

Spokane County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Oregon Fire located in Spokane County, near the town of Elk. 

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 18, 2023, at 7:15pm at the request of Assistant Chief Mike Nokes, Spokane County Fire District 4.

The Oregon Fire started on August 18, 2023, at approximately 4:12pm. This fire is estimated at 2000 acres and growing. It is burning in grass and timber and is threatening thirty homes, timber, power infrastructure, and crops. Level 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.

LEVEL 1:  GET READY
LEVEL 2:  GET SET
LEVEL 3:  GO!


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