Washington is in for a long wildfire season
By Terry Murry on Thursday, July 27th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – With drought conditions expected to worsen over the coming weeks and the extended forecast models showing the potential for a heatwave in early August, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said Washington is far from out of the woods when it comes to fire season.
“Conditions in our state in the last few days have been some of the worst we’ve experienced this year,” Franz said. “We’ve had 80,000 acres burned to date this year.”
In Klickitat County, the Newell Road Fire east of Goldendale accounts for more than half of the Washington acreage burned so far this year, according to Franz. The fire has burned 59,858 acres and is 40 percent contained at last report. The cause of the fire, which started Friday, is under investigation.
Franz is urging people to do their part to support firefighters by “being one less spark out on the landscape.” To date, there have been 1,000 fires in Washington in 2023.
Franz said the Department of Natural Resources is more prepared than ever before to fight wildfires. In 2017, the agency only had eight Vietnam War-era helicopters. Now, DNR has 28 aerial resources.
Newell Road Fire photo via Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office
