+34
A series of wildfires were started or re-energized this past weekend as high heat and winds rocked western Washington with some of the driest weather conditions recorded in October in the state's history.
update: Estimated at 2,000 acres, burning exclusively in private timber land and on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest about 30 miles east of Seattle. The fire may be visible from both the I-90 and I-405 highway corridors.
The 8 Road Fire in South Pierce County has burned 150 acres since Sunday. A spokesperson with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources said air and ground crews have attacked the fire throughout the day, and ground crews will continue work throughout the night. According to Pierce County Fire and Rescue 23, a Level One, or “Be Ready,” evacuation notice has been issued for people living at certain locations of Scott Turner Road, Beaver Creek, and 8 Road.The Nakia Fire has burned 1,565 acres near Vancouver, Wash., and is only 5% contained. Approximately 2,900 residents are under evacuation orders, while an additional 5,000 homes are under a “Be Set” Level 2 order.Fire crews are facing challenges with the Nakia Fire specifically, due to the terrain, according to Ryan Rodruck, the public information officer for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. “On several fires this season, terrain, just the ruggedness of the mountains, the ruggedness of the area in which these fires burn, has presented significant challenges for our firefighters. But we are doing everything we can with every resource available to address these blazes,” Rodruck said. The Jim Creek Fire is threatening critical infrastructure. A small Navy center in East Snohomish County is still unscarred from a brush fire there. Arlington-Stanwood Firefighters say state and federal fire teams have taken over for most local crews.The fire is in the Jim Creek Navy Recreation area, which is for military service members only.“This is a later-than-average wildfire season owing to those extremely hot and extremely dry conditions that persisted late into the month of October now,” Rodruck said. The Nakia fire is under investigation, but Rodruck said “the Nakia Creek Fire is suspected to be human-caused, however, that exact point source is going to remain under investigation for the time being.” These fires have caused a significant amount of smoke over Puget Sound, with moderate air quality hovering over Seattle on Monday, according to theKayla Mazurkiewicz with the National Weather Service said there will be a reprieve from the lung-burning air soon, with a shift in wind patterns set to bring relief from wildfire smoke. “Now with the marine air that’s going to come push in, that’s going to come with westerly winds, so that smoke is actually going to push to the east today,” Mazurkiewicz said. “So today, you’re going to have some improvement [with] air quality. And I’m sure everyone would like to see that. Especially since you’ve had a hot weekend and very bad air quality around the area.”
Scratch the next story
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Climate change magnifies health impacts of wildfire smoke in areas lacking health careAir quality is getting worse in the western United States, thanks to wildfires and climate change.
Read more »
Philadelphia weekend shootings: 5 shot, 2 critical as more gun violence erupts across the citySeveral investigations are underway after Philadelphia police say three separate shootings leave four people injured, two critically, as the weekend begins.
Read more »
Philadelphia weekend shootings: 10 shot, 1 killed as more gun violence erupts across the citySeveral investigations are underway after Philadelphia police say six separate shootings leave 10 people injured, four critically, and kills one, as the weekend stretches on.
Read more »
Air quality alerts continue; unseasonably warm October weather to blame, say expertsSmoky, dirty air hangs over the Puget Sound like a blanket as wildfires continue to burn across the state.
Read more »
Rain on tap by weekend amid record-breaking dry weather, heatThe big question on the minds of many across western Washington is: When will it finally rain and douse all the wildfires and smoke that come along with it?
Read more »
California to mandate insurance discounts for wildfire mitigation effortsThe regulation is largely a response to skyrocketing insurance costs for residents in wildfire-prone areas, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said. Currently, fewer than half of the insurance companies doing business in California provide such discounts.
Read more »