2016 Washington wildfires

2016 Washington wildfires
Statistics
Total fires 7+
Total area 201,095 acres (81,380 ha) (as of August 23)
Fatalities 0
Season
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2017 →

The 2016 Washington wildfires season are an ongoing series of wildfires in the U.S. state of Washington.

Events

July

In late July, two fires in eastern Yakima County burned more than 1,500 acres (610 ha) before being contained.[1]

The Range 12 Fire was started on July 31 and quickly grew to over 177,000 acres (72,000 ha), covering parts of Benton and Yakima counties, before being contained in early August.[2] The fire was the third in recent years to affect the area surrounding the Hanford Reach National Monument and the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve, but was contained quickly through the use of controlled burns.[3]

August

In August, the area surrounding Spokane, the state's second largest city, was threatened with three active wildfires.

In late August, Wellesley and Yale fires merged to form the Spokane Complex Fire. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents in the Moccasin Bay area of Spangle.[4] By August 22, fires in Spokane County had destroyed 10 homes.[5] The Hart Road Fire in nearby Lincoln County grew to more than 1,600 acres (650 ha) and triggered the evacuation of nearby residents, and destroyed 11 homes.[6][7]

A series of lightning strike fires in the Olympic Mountains were visible from the Seattle area and lowered air quality to "moderate" levels as rated by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.[8]

On August 23, Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in 20 of Washington's 39 counties, mostly in Eastern Washington, citing limited local firefighting resources.[9] Inslee blamed ongoing climate change for creating "explosive conditions" in the state's forests and wild lands, fueling stronger wildfires in recent years.[10]

Another pair of lightning strike fires in the Glacier Peak Wilderness created hazy conditions over Wenatchee to the east.[11]

List of fires

As of August 24, 2016[12]
Name County Acres Start Date Contained Date Cause Notes
Buck Creek Chelan 1,987 July 22, 2016 Active Lightning
Deep North Stevens 617 August 21, 2016 Active Unknown
Hart Lincoln 18,220 August 20, 2016 Active Unknown
Olympic National Park fires Jefferson 955 July 25, 2016 Active Lightning Consists of four fires: Cox Valley, Godkin, Hayes, and Ignar Creek
Range 12 Yakima 176,600 July 30, 2016 August 5, 2016 Unknown
Snake River Garfield 11,452 August 2, 2016 August 7, 2016 Unknown
Spokane Complex Spokane 7,251 August 21, 2016 Active Unknown Formed out of Wellesley and Yale Road fires

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Ryan (July 29, 2016). "Two East Valley fires strain firefighters". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Range 12 fire 90% contained, 176,600 acres of Yakima, Benton counties scorched". Yakima Herald-Republic. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ Cary, Annette (August 6, 2016). "Time needed for ravaged Hanford monument ecosystem to recover from third fire". Tri-City Herald. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ "At least 16 homes destroyed in Eastern Washington wildfires". KIRO 7 News. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ Vergara, Matt; Clark, Bre; Loukides, Kaitlin (August 22, 2016). "Spokane Co. fires destroy 12 homes". KREM 2 News. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ Alexander, Rachel (August 21, 2016). "Fire near Davenport grows to 1,600 acres". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  7. ↑ Geranios, Nicholas K. (August 22, 2016). "Wildfires in Spokane region grow, destroy more than a dozen homes". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  8. ↑ Whittenberg, Jake (August 22, 2016). "Olympic Forest wildfires making smoky skies in Western Washington". KING 5 News. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Inslee declares emergency in 20 counties due to multiple wildfires, extreme fire conditions" (Press release). Governor of Washington. August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Inslee declares emergency in 20 counties due to wildfires". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  11. ↑ Riggs, Dee (August 23, 2016). "Haze likely coming from fire Buck Creek Fire". Wenatchee World. Retrieved August 23, 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  12. ↑ "Washington Incidents". InciWeb. National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved August 24, 2016.

External links

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