Washington fire Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

‘There Was No Stopping It’: The Fast, Life-Saving Effort To Evacuate Malden As It Burned

By Doug Nadvornick September 10, 2020

Most of the buildings in Malden are now rubble after a fast-moving fire swept through on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2020. CREDIT: Doug Nadvornick/SPR

On Wednesday, Washington Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz was walking through the streets of Malden with the town’s mayor, Chris Ferrell. Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers was following a short distance behind and remembering what happened Monday afternoon.Read More

Extreme End To The 2020 Northwest Fire Season Reminds Of The 1910 ‘Big Burn’

By Courtney Flatt September 9, 2020

Late afternoon light catches smoke from the Cold Springs Fire near a structure that appeared to be empty long before the fire, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, near Omak, Washington. CREDIT: Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review via AP

Usually, fire season starts to tamp down in September. This year has been anything but normal. In an unprecedented fire event, at least 80 fires started in Washington over Labor Day weekend.Read More

‘It Was Quite A Shock.’ Wild Weekend As Northwest Fires Claim Homes, Injure Firefighter

By Emily Schwing August 12, 2018

Washington fire managers responded to nearly 70 new fire starts August 11, 2018, including the Grass Valley Fire that threatened the Grand Coulee Dam area and forced hundreds of evacuations. CREDIT: INCIWEB

It was a wild weekend for wildfire in the Northwest. A cold front brought lightning and high winds -- but no rain -- to the region east of the Cascades already plagued by extremely dry conditions.Read More

UPDATE: Central Washington Conrad Fire By Naches Nears Containment, Threat Level Lowered

By Anna King July 2, 2018

Overhead shot of the Conrad Fire burning outside Naches, Washington. PHOTO CURTOSEY OF KIMA-TV

A large wildfire is burning outside of Naches, in central Washington. It started Sunday afternoon, and is called the Conrad fire. It’s currently estimated at more than 5,000 acres and about 20 percent contained.Read More

Air Support To Northwest Wildfires Could Be Delayed This Year

By Anna King April 25, 2018

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell questioned the acting head of the U.S. Forest Service, Vicki Christiansen, this week. Among the senator's top concerns: There may not be enough air support for fires in the West this year.Read More

Homeowners Have A Large Role In Protecting Their Own Properties From Wildfire

By Anna King April 23, 2018

CREDIT: STUART PALLEY/U.S. FOREST SERVICE

We’ve seen more wildfires burning into urban communities lately. But there’s a lot homeowners can do to protect themselves, according to top scientists at the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab.Read More

Smoke-Filled Summers Suck. Health Officials Say Prepare Now For Long-Term Effects

By Courtney Flatt April 22, 2018

Scene from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire in Columbia River Gorge

Wildfire smoke can be annoying. It makes your eyes water and your nose run. But for some people with certain medical conditions, wildfire smoke can be especially unhealthy — and sometimes deadly. That’s why experts say people need to prepare before fires start. One big way to help: get an air filtration system.Read More

Washington Department Of Fish And Wildlife Stepping Up Controlled Burns This Spring

By Emily Schwing April 3, 2018

File photo. Washington's Department of FIsh and Wildlife plans to set controlled fires on on more than 1,000 acres in Okanogan, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties. CREDIT: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Forests and grasslands in eastern Washington are at high risk for large, intense wildfire. This spring Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to using controlled burning on more than 1,000 acres in Okanogan, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties.Read More