Western Washington braces for ‘above normal’ wildfire season

EVERETT — The Puget Sound region, Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains will be at “above normal” risk for wildfires all summer, according to updated maps released by the National Interagency Fire Center.

For the months of July, August and September, a swath of Western Washington from the Columbia River to the Canadian border will be at elevated risk — with Snohomish County squarely in the danger zone.

The immediate forecast? Pretty dry. No rain is predicted in Everett until at least July 16. Highs in Snohomish County and the surrounding region could be 10 to 13 degrees higher than normal, said Dev McMillian, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Darrington and its heavily forested surroundings could see temperatures up to 95 degrees this weekend.

“With hot and dry conditions, it definitely leaves an elevated concern for fire weather activity,” McMillian said. “Nonetheless, we’re not expecting to see the strong winds with this sort of pattern.”

Meanwhile, the northeastern tip of Snohomish County remains in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the rest of the county is considered “abnormally dry,” a pre-drought stage.

Many roads in Snohomish County are vulnerable to wildfire, whether that’s an I-5 shutdown or gridlocked traffic on U.S. 2. Those issues (among others) are also being discussed as part of work on Snohomish County’s new wildfire plan. Fire officials are hoping that plan is adopted by the end of the year.

When temperature, fuel load and wind speeds all reach certain marks, the National Weather Service can issue a red flag warning. Last year, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning west of the Cascades on June 6 — the earliest the region had seen such a warning since at least 2006.

Partially in response to the rising wildfire risk here, the Snohomish County Council moved earlier this year to ban firework sales where lighting them was already banned. That ordinance goes into effect next year.

South County Fire launched a sign campaign to remind the public where fireworks are banned in south Snohomish County. Public outcry played a part as well, with some residents worried fires could start in the woods near their home and engulf their neighborhood.

Fireworks are often to blame for the high volume of calls emergency services receive during the Fourth of July weekend and surrounding days.

In 2023, fires caused by fireworks resulted in $12 million in property damage across the state. Fireworks and smoke bombs are also banned on National Forest and National Parks land year-round.

“Too many wildfires are caused by unsafe recreation activities,” said Tracy Calizon, assistant director with the U.S. Forest Service, in a press release. “When vegetation gets dry, just about anything that throws a spark can start a fire.”

Local fire agencies are preparing as well.

The county is now in a Stage 1 burn ban on most fires, even if a permit has been issued by a fire agency. Recreational and cooking fires are still allowed. The burn ban will continue through Aug. 31.

Fire District 17 Assistant Chief Bill Dane said Granite Falls firefighters recently completed “red card” (wildland fire) training and have readied themselves for the dangerous months ahead.

“We have our brush truck up and running and ready to go, all stocked,” Dane said. “And we’re just on standby, hoping our citizens can keep it cool.”

Snohomish County’s growth has meant more people living in the Wildland Urban Interface, a term used to describe populated areas at an increased risk of wildfires. About 150,000 county residents live in the these zones near forests and land that can burn.

Authorities are preparing for more fires. In many respects, the explosive Bolt Creek fire served as a warning in 2022. That fire was human-caused, scorching 12,000 acres of woods just north of Skykomish and Index.

Evacuations along the two-lane state highways that crisscross Snohomish County would be chaotic at best during a major fire. Last year, the county updated its evacuation language to “Ready, Set, Go,” a three-stage system set to simplify evacuations as much as possible.

Tips for evacuating in an emergency

• Assemble a “go bag” with changes of clothes, medicine, a first aid kit, water and other supplies.

• If you have pets, prepare pet food in a bag to save time as well.

• Save important documents in a fireproof safe.

• Do your homework ahead of time and know the best routes to get out.

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.