Prepare for wildfire season

“Everything is looking like a hotter and dryer fire season,” said Chuck Turley, wildfire division manager for the Department of Natural Resources.

Anyone in western Washington last summer will likely remember the smokier days of the season. This year looks to be similar, due to higher than normal temperatures, a lack of precipitation and low soil moisture. 

Last year 40 percent of wildfires broke out in Western Washington — unlike past years. With current conditions, a similar concentration of fires is likely to occur in the region. 

The Washington State Department of Ecology declared a severe drought last week. This followed Governor Jay Inslee’s declaration of severe drought for a majority of Western Washington watersheds in late May. The last declared drought was in 2015. 

State agencies began their preparation earlier in the spring. Around 1,000 people are going through various fire training programs throughout the state. There are three fire academies yearly, the last of which began earlier this month.

Among other agencies, the Department of Natural Resources and Washington National Guard are working together this year to combat wild fires. Guardsmen began training in January to complete refresher course in preparation of the 2019 fire season.

The Department of Natural Resources recommends having a wildfire preparedness plan for those living in at-risk areas:> Know the fire risk in your area.

> Look regularly at updates from the National Weather Service on conditions and changes in air quality. 

> Keep vegetation near buildings trimmed and green.

> Avoid using beauty bark around structures — it can smolder.

> Keep tree limbs trimmed to be at least 5 feet apart. 

> Don’t have anything dragging on your car. 

> Put out your campfire (drown it, stir it, make sure all embers are out).