Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz has asked everyone to stay vigilant and help prevent human-caused wildfires during this upcoming Labor Day weekend.
Fires that started on Labor Day weekend last year accounted for more than 70 percent of all acres burned in 2020, stated a news release. Those fires destroyed the town of Malden, burned 283 homes and more than 600,000 acres across Washington. The resulting smoke temporarily gave Western Washington the worst air quality in the world.
Franz highlighted the need to protect both residents and firefighters from avoidable wildfire danger.
“This is not the time to let our guard down,” Franz said in the release. “Last year, only 93,000 acres had burned by the end of August. What happened next showed us how fast things can change. The Labor Day weekend firestorm burned more than 500,000 acres in less than 36 hours. I’m asking the public to help prevent a repeat of last year’s tragedy by avoiding starting outdoor fires.”
So far this season, Washington has seen a record-breaking number of wildfires with more than 1,716 around the state, surpassing the number of total wildfires in 2020. Those fires have burned approximately 635,000 acres, more than the 2018 and 2019 fire season combined.
“This fire season began months earlier than normal due to historic drought conditions, leaving firefighters worn out and resources spread thin,” stated the release. “Fire danger east of the Cascades remains very high to extreme in most areas. Unfavorable wind conditions can rapidly turn even the smallest fire into a large one.”
Everyone is encouraged to avoid starting outdoor fires. People are asked not to park vehicles on grassy areas, to ensure dirt bikes and ATVs have operating spark arrestors, and are encouraged to create defensible space around their homes by reducing dry fuels around the area, cleaning roof tops and gutters, and removing dead branches from trees.
The public is also asked to pay attention to and abide by burn ban restrictions.
