As if coronavirus and examples of police brutality were not enough to think about, Washington residents now need to turn some attention to wildfires.
The National Interagency Fire Center predicts above-normal potential for wildfires in all of Eastern Washington and most of Oregon this summer. Already, the state Department of Natural Resources reported 263 wildfires this year by May 12 — 160 more than average. Much of that is a result of stay-at-home orders, which have given residents more time to clear and burn yard debris.
Washingtonians should be particularly careful with burn piles and campfires, and should prepare for a smoky summer. Meanwhile, Congress should use coronavirus relief legislation to boost assistance for states likely to be affected by fires. While wildfires might seem unrelated to COVID-19, the economic impact will exacerbate the pressure created by the pandemic.
In addition, the coronavirus has a direct relation to the state’s ability to prepare for and suppress wildfires. Many of the National Guard troops that typically are mobilized to battle blazes are deployed to communities affected by the virus, and strategies for addressing fires will have to be altered. As senators from across the West asked in a letter to the U.S. Forest Service: “Given the various state-level stay-at-home orders, will national crews and assets be able to move between regions to respond to wildfires? What are you doing to communicate the scale of risk?”
The sprawling camps that bring hundreds of firefighters into close proximity will have to be reconfigured into smaller camps, and helicopters and airplanes likely will play a larger role in fire suppression. As Jude Bayham, a researcher at Colorado State University, told InvestigateWest: “We have potentially thousands of people in close proximity, stressed emotionally and physically, under conditions of relatively poor hygiene. That mixed with what we understand about this disease right now is concerning.”
Hilary Franz, Washington’s public lands commissioner, in April requested $86.6 million in new federal funding for forest thinning, response capacity and personal protective equipment for firefighters. No action has been taken on the request, but Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray of Washington must continue efforts to secure that funding. They also must continue to push Forest Service officials for firefighting plans in the age of COVID-19. When it comes to wildfires, preparation is a wise investment.
Meanwhile, property owners should be aware of heightened danger for wildfires this year. More than 2 million Washington homes are in wildfire-prone areas, and Franz has emphasized the need for a clear perimeter around those structures.
Residents also should be aware of the weather forecast and wildfire risk before starting a burn. Wet weather in May and thus far in June has dampened the risk in some areas, but we might be heading into a long, dry summer, and much of the Northwest already is experiencing drought conditions.
As Clark County residents know, the impact of wildfires is not limited to the burn area. Distant blazes often effect our air quality; on occasion, a distant blaze will lead to light ash falling on the region. In the past, officials have recommended N95 masks to protect against particularly smoky air, but that could be problematic with masks needed for those on the front line of the coronavirus fight.
Wildfire season might seem a daunting prospect during these challenging times. Preparation now can make it manageable.
