Wildland fires are fires caused by nature or humans that result in the uncontrolled destruction of forests, brush, field crops, grasslands and real and personal property.
The wildland fire season in Washington usually begins in early July and typically culminates in late September when regular rain returns to the Northwest. However, wildland fires have occurred in every month of the year.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources protects 2.5 million acres of state-owned land and 10 million acres of land in private ownership through legislative directive.
The department fights about 900 wildland fires per year across the state, about 70 percent are in Eastern Washington. Most are small, usually extinguished while they are less than one acre in size. Wildland fires can spread to more than 100,000 acres, depending on a number of factors, and may require thousands of firefighters and several months to extinguish. Federal, state, county, city and private agencies and private timber companies provide fire protection and firefighting services on forestlands in Washington.
Washington Wildfire Resources
Fraud advice from the Washington Secretary of State and the Attorney General's Office:
- https://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/GiveSmart.aspx
- https://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/
- https://www.atg.wa.gov/charities
Wildfire status updates
- Burn ban status on DNR lands and State Parks
- Northwest Interagency Coordination Center updates
- Report a forest fire: 911 and 800-562-6010
- Wildfire location and status updates
Shelter and housing resources
- Red Cross shelters
- -http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter
-Current information on Red Cross shelter openings also available on their mobile app. - http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps
- -http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter
Washington State Animal Response Team emergency shelters
- Washington State Animal Response Team
What you can do
Donate locally: Community Action Agencies in fire impacted areas are assisting with recovery and emergency needs. To make a cash donation, contact:
- Adams, Grant and north Yakima counties: OIC of Washington
- Steve Mitchell, 509-248-6751 https://www.yvoic.org/
- Chelan and Douglas County: Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council –
- Julie Kagele, 509-662-6156 http://www.cdcac.org/
- Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties: Community Foundation of North Central Washington –
- Beth Stipe, 509-663-7716
- Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties: Rural Resources Community Action –
- Greg Knight, 509-684-8421 http://www.ruralresources.org/
- Klickitat and Skamania counties: Washington-Gorge Action Partners
- Linda Schneider, 509-493-2662 https://www.wagap.org/
- Okanogan County: Okanogan County Community Action Council –
- Lael Duncan, 509-422-4041 https://www.facebook.com/okcommunityaction/
- Spokane County: Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners -
- Julie Honekamp, 509-456-7111 https://www.snapwa.org/index.php
- Red Cross: You can donate to the Red Cross or ask about volunteer opportunities. Any amount is helpful. Call 1-800-RedCross or donate online.
- State employees can donate to the wildfire relief campaign online or through their pay checks through the Combined Fund Drive Wildfire Relief Campaign.
Volunteer:
- Find out how to get involved at your local fire department here or call 1-800-FIRELINE
- If you're a veteran interested in volunteering, more info on Team Rubicon here
Social media related to #waWILDFIRE
- #waWILDFIRE on Twitter
- Governor Inslee on Twitter and Facebook
- WA Dept. of Ecology on Twitter and Facebook
- WA Dept. of Health on Twitter and Facebook
- WA Dept. of Natural Resources on Twitter and Facebook
- WA Emergency Management Division on Twitter and Facebook
- WA National Guard on Twitter and Facebook
- WA Fire Marshal on Twitter
- WA State Patrol on Twitter
- Red Cross Northwest on Twitter
Updates from the State
- Governor’s Office updates
- Drinking water alerts for areas affected by wildfires
- Washington Emergency Management Division updates
- Washington Department of Transportation travel updates
- Wildfire smoke and air quality updates
DNR information sources
- DNR Burn Risk Map
- DNR Burn restrictions
- DNR investigations
- DNR recreation map
- DNR wildfire page
Local emergency management contacts
Additional information on wildfires:
Learn More About Wildland Fires in Washington State (PDF)
Wildfire Fact Sheet (PDF)
Wildfire Retrofit Guide: Northwest Edition (PDF)
Wildfires -- what to do after returning home (link)
FEMA Course: Wildfire Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff
What to do after a wildfire? Red Cross Brochure in English
Que hacer después de un fuego Folleto de Red Cross en Español
