Red Flag Warning: Eastern Washington braces for dangerous wildfire conditions this weekend

Have plans to head to eastern Washington this weekend to escape the expected much cooler weather in western Washington?

Be aware that the same weather system bringing a threat of light showers and cooler breezy conditions is going to kick up strong winds with gusts up to 45 mph east of the Cascade crest.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical wildfire conditions Saturday across much of eastern Washington. The strong winds combined with an already dry environment, warm temperatures, and quite low relative humidity have fire authorities voicing great concern.

The winds on Saturday are expected to fan the flames of existing fires to far more dangerous conditions, and heighten the danger for any new fires that get started.

Commissioner of Public Lands: ‘Please don’t be a spark this weekend’

“I’m calling on Washingtonians – please don’t be a spark this weekend,” Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove stated in a news release. “Your choices could literally save lives.”

Upthegrove added, “The support from our local, state and federal partners has been terrific. We’re all fully engaged in this fight.”

The release also noted state officials are working with power utilities across the region. Utilities may need to interrupt power service as a strategic means of reducing the fire danger from power line sparks.

National Guard mobilizes as NWS calls weekend a ‘particularly dangerous situation’

In addition, more resources from as far away as Florida are en route to the Pacific Northwest to help with the firefighting effort, including staff and additional equipment. The Washington National Guard is also mobilizing 110 troops as fireline hand crews. Three of the National Guard’s helicopters are already helping fight fires in Central Washington.

The National Weather Service described the weekend conditions as a “particularly dangerous situation” for a large region east of the Cascade crest, including the Waterville Plateau, Okanogan Valley, Western Columbia Basin, the Spokane area, the Colville Reservation, and the Palouse and Snake River areas.

More than a dozen wildfires burning in eastern Washington

More than a dozen wildfires are currently burning in eastern Washington, including the Kaiser Canyon Fire in Okanogan County now at over 129,000 acres, and the Little Giant Fire in the Entiat Valley region where authorities are asking local residents to evacuate as the fire has grown to over 25,000 acres.

Wildfire smoke has also spoiled air quality in the region as well. Some air quality readings have risen to the unhealthy level.

So far this wildfire season, 2.6 million acres have burned nationwide. The bulk has been in Oregon and Washington, where over 1.8 million acres have been torched, and the month of August and the peak of fire season is just around the corner.

If traveling to eastern Washington this weekend, be prepared to take action in case rapidly moving, wind-driven wildfires approach your location. Also take N95 masks to use if encountering wildfire smoke.

Maybe the cooler conditions and smoke-free air in western Washington will be a more appealing option this weekend.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.