‘A matter of when, not if’: Western WA not immune to wildfires, experts say
For Western Washington, it's not a matter of if a wildfire will strike, but when.
Wildfires may seem like a disaster reserved for the drier climates east of the Cascades, where they occur more frequently. But experts say the west side of the state isn't off the hook.
Forests on the west side of the Cascades are also fire-prone, and fire has played a long role in their history, said Dr. Brian J Harvey, a professor and forest fire ecologist at the University of Washington.
"Fire is a very integral part of these ecosystems, but the trends that we've been seeing in recent years have been fairly remarkable in terms of the increase in fire activity," Harvey said.
Troubling trends
Between 1983 and 1999, only one year exceeded 6 million acres of forest burned, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Since 2000, the number of years has increased to 15.
The trend of increased intensity can be attributed to a variety of factors, one of which is climate change, Harvey said.
The average temperature of Washington has risen nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900, according to the USDA Northwest Climate Hub.
As warmer temperatures bring more rain instead of snow, Washington's snowpack levels are dwindling. This year marks the fourth emergency statewide drought declaration in a row.
The less snowpack there is during the winter, the earlier it melts. And when ecosystems dry out earlier and more intensely, the potential for wildfires increases, Harvey said.
But it's not just our changing climate shaping these events.
There's also a backlog of combustible vegetation piling up in Washington forests due to a century of prioritizing fire suppression tactics over prescribed burns, A.K.A. extra fuel for fires to burn.
More human developments are encroaching upon forested land, turning wildfires increasingly into urban conflagrations destroying homes and other buildings.
Combine all of these elements, and you've got a recipe for an intense wildfire season.
East vs West
The biggest difference between fires in the east and west of the state comes down to the frequency of fires, Harvey said.
Cities east of the Cascades are historically warmer and drier during the summer months. They're also more prone to wind events, like the intense winds that aided the spread of Spokane's latest fires.
The west side, on the other hand, is sandwiched between an ocean and mountain range that make the region prone to precipitation. The region's temperatures are also moderated by Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean.
Because of these factors, the window of time when weather conditions are most conducive to starting fires is shorter, meaning fewer fires west of the mountains.
Hence, the impression of an environment spared from the flames.
"It's easy to get lulled into a sense of complacency that this isn't something that can happen on the west side of the Cascades," Harvey said. "But we know that's not true."
Just this Wednesday, the Sourdough Fire in Port Angeles began burning across a forested slope on the north side of Olympic National Park.
The Grand Park 2 Fire in the northeast area of Mount Rainier National Park that kicked off Friday has already reached 200 acres.
And even if wildfires aren't happening in the immediate area, the west side still feels their effects.
Wildfire smoke from fires hundreds of miles away descended upon the South Sound Monday night, polluting the air and pushing air quality to unhealthy levels.
"It's a matter of when, not if, an area is going to burn throughout most of the Western U.S.," Harvey said.
Protecting against wildfires
There are precautions residents can take to enhance the resilience of their homes, particularly for those living in less developed areas.
A key part of protecting your living space is creating a defensible space around your home, said Thomas Kyle-Milward, from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
This means cutting back tree branches and brush that are near the building, as well as cleaning out the gutters to decrease the risk of a stray ember igniting the house.
Putting together a go-bag filled with emergency supplies and essentials is another way to prepare. Ready.gov provides a list of basic supplies to take with you if you're unsure what goods to bring.
In the case of a wildfire, you can monitor conditions on the Department of Natural Resources Wildfire Intel Dashboard or the Watch Duty app.
And if you happen to find yourself in a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation zone, it's in your best interest to listen to that warning, Kyle-Milward said.
"Heed those instructions," he said. "It might be the only chance you get to escape an oncoming flame front."