Wildfires

Fire Season Predicted To Be A Scorcher This Year

Anna King — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:13:46 +0000

Several forest fires are already burning in Western Washington and crews are mopping up a big one in central Oregon. There were also two grass fires that burned near Middleton, Idaho just west of Boise, this past weekend.

Dry winds and above average temperatures predicted this summer and fall, have fire managers preparing for an earlier than usual season.

A high-pressure ridge since winter has dried the Northwest’s timberlands and big sage stands this spring.

Early Start To Central Oregon Fire Season

David Nogueras — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:13:00 +0000

Fire season appears to be off to an early start in Central Oregon. Fire crews spent the weekend battling a wildfire near La Pine.

U.S. Forest Service Moves Away From 'Fight All Fire' Policy

Rachael McDonald — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:21:24 +0000

The U.S. Forest Service is reversing its policy to aggressively fight all wildfires. This change was announced in a letter from Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell last month.

Northwest Dry Spell Almost At An End

Chris Lehman — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:56:41 +0000

The streak of dry weather in much of the Northwest is about to come to a soggy end. A weather system fueled by subtropical moisture is bearing down on the region.

2012 Wildfires In The Northwest Have Burned Record Number Of Acres

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:22:17 +0000

The Forest Service and BLM say 2012 has been the worst fire season in the last 100 years. Oregon and Washington have reported fewer fires than average, but a record number of acres burned.

Northwest Fire Season Stretches Tribal Resources Thin

Jessica Robinson — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:26:10 +0000

Fire crews are pushing back against a new blaze near Omak, Wash. The 5,000-acre wildfire on the Colville Indian Reservation has already destroyed two homes and forced other residents to evacuate. The Northwest’s busy fire season has taken a toll on tribal lands this year.

Northwest Smoke Makes Air In Some Areas Worse Than L.A.

Anna King — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 23:09:05 +0000

About a dozen wildfires are still burning in the Northwest, keeping the air hazy and unhealthy. But experts predict few, if any, long-term health effects. Correspondent Anna King reports.

Northwest Fire Season Overlapping With Hunting Season

Jessica Robinson — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:19:45 +0000

Evacuation notices around the Northwest have subsided as fire crews beat back the threat of wildfire to homes and subdivisions.

Central Wash. Fire Crews Begin To Head Home

Colin Fogarty — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 23:09:12 +0000

Crews are beginning to head home from the biggest wildfires that have been burning for the last two weeks in central Washington. But there are still more than 4,000 people working to contain the blazes on the east slopes of the Washington Cascades. That’s down about 800 from the peak workforce last weekend.

Firefighters Gain Upper Hand On Northwest Fires

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:55:57 +0000

Firefighters are making progress on several massive blazes around the Northwest. In Oregon, the Pole Creek Fire near Sisters is around 70 percent contained. Crews in central Washington are getting the upper hand on the 53,000-acre Wenatchee Complex, where another blaze flared up yesterday. And in Idaho fire bosses report minimal activity at the Mustang Complex along the Idaho-Montana border.