Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declares statewide wildfire emergency

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency Saturday, which includes a prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning.

Outdoor burning won’t be allowed in our state at least through the end of September.

The declaration also authorizes additional Washington National Guard troops to assist with firefighting efforts.

The state of emergency is due to unusually high temperatures, high winds, and drought conditions.

It comes at the same time the National Weather Service is issuing an unprecedented Red Flag Alert warning about a “particularly dangerous situation” where the risk of fire is “extreme” across eastern Washington.

According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, more than 1,000 fires have burned about 425,000 acres this year.

That’s the most in Washington state since 2021.

Right now, at least 12 large fires continue to burn across 200,000 acres in Washington state.

Crews working the front lines of a wildfire in eastern Washington. (Photo: WA. Dept. of Natural Resources)

The governor’s emergency proclamation makes it illegal to conduct outdoor burning of yard debris, trash, land clearing, weed abatement, bonfires, and campfires outside of structures such as fire rings.

While most outdoor burning is prohibited, it’s still ok to use gas stoves or approved fire pits.

On Friday, Gov. Ferguson activated 110 personnel from the Washington National Guard to help out fire crews across the state.

That adds to 27 helicopter crew members that were activated in July.

There are 13 task forces currently managing wildfires in Washington. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office has assigned eight of those to the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County. The other five are assisting crews at the Bradeen Hill Fire in Stevens County.