First Red Flag Warning issued for western Washington this season
How Washington is preparing for high wildfire danger
With dry brush, high winds and thunderstorms in the forecast, Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove joins FOX 13 to discuss how the state is assessing the risks and protecting the public from wildfires.
Parts of western Washington are under a Red Flag Warning for the first time this season, as high winds, potential thunderstorms and dry conditions are creating high wildfire danger.
While much of central and eastern Washington has already seen multiple Red Flag Warnings in recent months, the western slopes of the Cascades and the Olympics are now seeing significant wildfire risks.
Red Flag Warning in Washington
What we know:
Parts of Mason, Jefferson, Clallam and Grays Harbor counties are under a Red Flag Warning from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday. Eastern areas of King, Pierce, Snohomish, Whatcom, and Cowlitz counties are also included.
A fire weather watch was upgraded to a red flag warning in parts of Western Washington. (FOX 13 Seattle)
An incoming storm could bring lightning in areas away from rainfall, along with gusty winds that can cause existing fires to spread rapidly.
Thunderstorm chances are elevated in Washington, posing wildfire danger in drier areas under the red flag warning. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Timeline:
Thunderstorms could potentially strike in Washington beginning overnight and into Thursday. Central and eastern Washington remain under the highest risk, with a high wildfire risk persisting into Saturday.
Fire crews across the state will closely monitor storm-impacted areas throughout the weekend.
Fire risk levels are high in Central and Eastern Washington. (FOX 13 Seattle)
What you can do:
Anyone planning on spending time outdoors this weekend is asked to take the following safety precautions:
- Follow local burn restrictions and campfire bans.
- Use extreme caution with any equipment that can produce sparks.
- Don't leave a campfire unattended.
- Avoid outdoor activities that could accidentally ignite dry grass or brush.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the FOX 13 Seattle Weather Team, the National Weather Service and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.