After record number of April fires, Washington could face challenging fire season

It’s only April, but officials are already warning about the increasing fire danger in our state.

So far this month, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has had 202 fires. The previous record for the month of April was set in 2019 at 162.

Biden administration approves major disaster declaration, wildfire aid for Washington

After a historically destructive wildfire season in 2020, the state launched WildfireReady.com to help give residents an action plan and “take the confusion out of wildfire preparedness.” The Wildfire Ready Neighbors program kicked off earlier this month in Okanogan County.

Fires can get out of control fast. Do you part to prepare your property and protect your neighbors. Sign up for a free wildfire action plan, customized to suit your living situation. https://t.co/EJhUMEQhxh pic.twitter.com/YUtVgdWV4d

— Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources (@waDNR) April 30, 2021

During the 2020 fire season, more than 800,000 acres burned in more than 1,600 fires, and 298 homes were destroyed, including the near total destruction of the town of Malden. According to a news release from the DNR, Washington has experienced the worst air quality in the world due to wildfires in two of the last three years.

The 2020 season rivaled the historic 2015 season that saw more than 1 million acres burn. Unfortunately, the state’s trajectory for wildfire severity has worsened in recent years, the DNR says, climbing from 293,000 acres in 2016, to 438,000 in 2018, and more than 812,000 last year.

Photos: Fires burning across Washington state in 2020

There is good news for wildfire response, however, as the Washington Legislature approved House Bill 1168 this session. The bill had been a top priority for Franz, and it would provide $125 million every two years to boost wildfire response, accelerate forest restoration, and support communities.

“The state legislature just took a historic step to change the trajectory of increasing fire and destruction. In the face of an unrelenting wildfire crisis, our state is rising to meet the moment,” Franz said. “We are rejecting the notion that we must simply accept devastating fire seasons as a fact of life in Washington.”

A spokesperson with the DNR told MyNorthwest that it will take time for the new resources from the bill to be on the ground, and the funding won’t be available until July, “which makes it difficult to deploy new fire fighters and resources this year.”

The department is working to secure access to planes and helicopters to help fight wildfires, but the DNR warns that “we could still be in for a challenging fire season,” which is why they are asking the public to practice fire safety and comply with all burn restrictions.