Commissioner Franz Urges Fire Safety This Memorial Day Weekend
Uptick in wildfire activity projected due to warmer, drier summer
“Even with one of the soggiest springs on record, Washington is still primed for wildfire season.
“With areas of drought expanding throughout Washington, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, who leads the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is asking Washington residents to make a concerted effort to help prevent fires this Memorial Day weekend.
“‘After a record wetting spring, we’re already starting to see signs of drying out,’ Franz said. ‘This summer is still expected to be warmer and drier than normal, setting the stage for active fire danger.'”
“Despite recent cool, rainy weather, DNR is prepositioning aircraft and equipment across the state in anticipation of an uptick in fire activity in the coming weeks despite current light fire activity.
“The early season rainfall has spurred vegetation that will quickly dry out and easily catch fire as this season warms, particularly in eastern Washington.”
Post a comment
No comments yet. You should be kind and add one!
By submitting a comment you grant Yelm Community Blog a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.