Latest news with #DaveUpthegrove
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tiger Mountain Summit trailhead to close for renovations starting in June
The Brief The Tiger Mountain Summit trailhead will be closed this summer. It will be closed to renovate and expand the parking lot capacity from 50 parking spots to over 170. Renovations are expected to take place between June 9 and November 1, 2025. ISSAQUAH, Wash. - The Tiger Mountain Summit trailhead in Issaquah will be closed for renovations and expansions this summer, according to the Washington State Department of National Resources (DNR). Starting June 9, the trailhead will be closed to renovate and expand the parking lot, 30 years after the lot was originally built. What we know The lot can currently hold 50 cars, but renovations look to increase capacity to more than 170 vehicles, and be more accessible for mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, and ADA parking. "As more people across Washington are getting outside to experience the beauty that our state has to offer, we need to provide opportunities that are safe and accessible for all our neighbors," said Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove in a statement. "Through this upgrade, we are doing just that and meeting the needs of the moment and our communities." The trail system will remain open, but the parking lot and trailhead closure will affect hiker access. DNR recommends hikers find alternative trails to explore in nearby areas this summer. All timber harvested in the expansion will go to the Issaquah Creek Restoration Project, a DNR Large Wood Supply Initiative that aims to create better habitats for Chinook and other salmon species in the Issaquah Creek in Lake Sammamish State Park. The DNR plans for the renovations and expansions to be complete by November 1, 2025. The renovation follows an upcoming Highway 18 construction project that will work on the entrance and exit at Tiger Summit, and may also affect nearby parking areas. The renovation and expansion of the Tiger Mountain Summit Trailhead have been funded by the 2024 Capital budget and grants. The Source Information in this article came from the Washington State Department of National Resources. A religious group is set to protest outside Seattle City Hall. Here's why LIVE: Updates on Seattle's Tuesday protest, arrests, more Crews battle Second Creek Fire near Leavenworth, WA 2 injured in separate Seattle shootings Teen, child killed in Lacey, WA mobile home fire Crews investigate explosion at Woodinville, WA hardware store College Inn Pub announces closure after 50 years in Seattle Dave's Hot Chicken to open 4 new locations in Seattle area. Here's where To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smokey Bear license plate coming to WA to help fund wildfire prevention
The Brief The new Smokey Bear license plate was approved in Washington and will fund wildfire prevention and support wildland firefighters. The plates will be available starting Nov. 1 for $40, with $30 annual renewal, benefiting the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Proceeds will raise awareness of human-caused wildfires, which account for 90% of wildfires in the state. OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington drivers will soon be able to show their support for wildfire prevention with a new specialty license plate featuring the iconic Smokey Bear. Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5444 into law this week, authorizing the state's first Smokey Bear plate to support efforts to reduce human-caused wildfires. The plate will be available for purchase beginning Nov. 1. Drivers can purchase the plate for an initial fee of $40, with a $30 annual renewal fee. Proceeds from the sales of the Smoky Bear plates will go directly to the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support wildfire prevention programs and wildland firefighter resources. "It's fitting that our state's first Smokey Bear license plate has been passed by the State Legislature during Wildfire Awareness Month," said Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, who celebrated the bill's signing. "Approximately 90 percent of wildfires every year are human-caused. We couldn't have a better advocate for wildfire prevention crisscrossing Washington along our interstates, highways and roads than Smokey. The new license plate continues Smokey Bear's mission to raise awareness about wildfire prevention, a role the beloved mascot has held since 1944. The goal is to increase public visibility of fire safety messaging while also generating funding for fire prevention programs. Commissioner Upthegrove thanked Rep. Donaghy and Sen. Nobles, the bill's prime sponsors, for their work over two legislative sessions to get the bill passed. The Smokey Bear license plate joins Washington's growing list of specialty plates that benefit various state programs and causes, offering residents a new way to make an impact from behind the wheel. For more information or to view images of the new plate, visit the Washington DNR website. The Source Information in this story came from a Washington Department of Natural Resources press release. Recovery effort underway after boat sinks in Possession Sound near Everett, WA Is Tacoma's Teekah Lewis cold case finally coming to a close? Here's what we know Over 100 Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores to close, including 8 in WA Marymoor Park announces 2025 summer concert series lineup in Redmond, WA Olympia, WA man dies at Grand Canyon after lengthy hike To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA governor accuses Trump of ‘constitutional crisis.' GOP leader calls that ‘hysterical'
In a brooding speech made Thursday to fundraisers, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson blasted the Trump administration for its alleged assault on the U.S. Constitution. 'I'm pretty careful about the words I use, okay,' Ferguson told a room full of 200 Tri-City Democrats at a Richland hotel on Thursday night. 'So I don't throw around terms, like 'constitutional crisis,' casually. But — but — we are, in our country right now, in the midst of a constitutional crisis. That is a fact, that is a reality,' he said. He was in the Tri-Cities all day on business — his first visit to the region since being elected governor. He spoke to the Richland Rotary Club, signed 11 bills into law and met with officials with the plumbers and pipefitters union Local 598 before breaking bread with Democrats. Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti and Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove were also there. In his speech, Ferguson touched on the state's budget woes, election gains he made in the Tri-Cities over Jay Inslee's 2012 campaign, the impact of rising tariffs, and how he strives to create a government that cuts back on red tape and 'works for people.' At the same time, he also was critical of legislative Democrats' fiscal spending and called on more 'responsible' budgeting. The Legislature recently finished its 2025 session, which included patching a $16 billion budget shortfall with new taxes. Then, Ferguson tried to rally Tri-Citians to contribute to campaigns, organize protests, defend democracy and to fight for the rights of others as Democrats push to retake Congress next year. 'I want you to know that there is no governor in the country more prepared to defend your freedoms against this president than I am,' he told the room. He called Trump's actions 'anti-democratic,' alleging the MAGA president 'ignores' court orders. Ferguson wasn't specific, but he claimed Trump's antagonistic attitudes toward the judiciary are the 'very definition' of a constitutional crisis. Ferguson made parallels to a book his son was reading about how democracies die, which he said claims they perish 'not by some big revolution, typically — but by a gradual erosion' of liberties. In a phone interview with the Tri-City Herald, a leading Washington Republican responded to Ferguson's comments by calling them 'hysterical' and 'not reality based.' 'We're not in a constitutional crisis,' said Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh. 'It's irresponsible stuff. And why? Because Democrats don't have a good challenger to Trump — and Trump's not going to run again.' 'Gov. Ferguson needs to not mind the splinter in Trump's eye and tend to the plank in his own eye,' Walsh continued. He was referring to a case involving a state trooper who died in a crash allegedly caused last year by an undocumented immigrant in Snohomish County. Political and constitutional experts have been hesitant to claim that the U.S. is experiencing a constitutional crisis. Some Harvard Law professors in a February panel said while Trump's actions were 'deeply troubling,' they didn't meet the definition of a constitutional crisis. But a YouGov poll sponsored by Elon University found that 67% of U.S. adult respondents in April were 'very' or 'somewhat' concerned about a 'crisis' arising from disagreements between the executive and judicial branches. It's clear rhetoric between the two major U.S. political parties continues to flare. Walsh pointed to a since-deleted social media post by former FBI Director James Comey. He's being investigated by the Secret Service after sharing photo of seashells that spelled out '86 47' — 86, a slang term meaning 'to remove,' and Trump is the 47th president. Liberals say the phrase is meant to support ousting the sitting president, but conservatives have interpreted it as an incitement of political violence. 'That's not a joking matter,' Walsh said.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Preparing your home for wildfire season
Annie and John Sherwin had a wake-up call five years ago. A historic heat dome that brought temperatures soaring into the triple digits also brought a wildfire nearby. 'That really got us thinking,' John said, 'What would it be like to be in a fire here?' Now, coming out of a winter that brought the third-straight year of below-average snowpack, rapid snowmelt, above-normal temperatures, and below-average rainfall, fire season has the potential to begin earlier and be more active, according to those at the Washington Department of Natural Resources. 'That's what sets you up for significant fire potential,' said Angie Lane with the Wildland Fire Management division of DNR. 'Those are the fires that would not be contained with [local] resources available and become large and costly.' While the next month will give people like Lane a better feel for the exact conditions, it's early enough for agencies to prepare. DNR has fully staffed its firefighting force for the season, even as State lawmakers slashed its prevention budget nearly in half. Those are programs like prescribed burns and undergrowth clearing to make landscapes less prone to explosive fire behavior. It's known as the Forest Health and Wildfire Resiliency work inside the department. 'It might not affect us directly this summer, but it certainly will in the future,' said Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands and Director of DNR. 'We're still pursuing prescribed burns and things like that, but as we look towards next year, we're going to need the Legislature to step in and fill the hole they created.' Adding to the staffing challenges this year, federal cuts to the U.S Forest Service will limit how much states like Washington will be able to rely on the support that has traditionally been there. While the Northwest Interagency Fire Center reports all seasonal firefighting positions have been filled, cuts to support positions like communications, meteorologists, and incident commanders will pare back the structures around the work firefighters do. Senator Patty Murray's office reports dozens of those positions have been cut, including 35 in the Mt. Baker National Forest. 'We won't be able to rely as much on the federal government in the same way we have,' Upthegrove said. Several agencies point to Firewise programs that help people protect their homes ahead of fire season. The Sherwin's requested an assessment of their home this year. Nestled in a rural stretch of forest south of Issaquah, the natural aesthetic that drew them to the area is what makes it vulnerable to fire. 'With climate change and the increasing likelihood of fires everywhere, especially in wooded areas, it became very clear that we need to start thinking about this,' Sherwin said. Eastside Fire & Rescue's Emergency Management Coordinator Catherine Robinson visits homes to assess the risks, what could or should be changed, and how people can make their homes fire-resistant. 'Most homes that burn in a wildfire are because of embers landing on or about your home,' Robinson said. 'The fire may never actually arrive here; it could be miles away, but embers can travel very far, and a lot of our big fires in this area would be in conjunction with a high wind event.' Metal, clay, or cement roofs are more resistant than wood ones. Composite decks, instead of wood, can create barriers around homes, especially with metal screens to prevent debris from building up underneath. 'We look for continuity of fuels, what's flammable next to what's flammable, next to what's flammable, next to your home,' Robinson said. Creating breaks in fuel sources can stop a fire from spreading. Wood fences and brush — especially that which is dry or dead — can create a path for fires to be brought to homes. Trees that aren't pruned next to sprawling, growing brush can create a path for fire to climb vertically as well. 'If you have a situation where you have dry vegetation on the ground, then you have taller brush that leads to and connects with branches, now you're allowing fire to climb into trees,' she added. The first five feet around the home is the most important, Robinson says, to remove anything flammable — from mulch, to wooden furniture, to vegetation. Next, she looks at five to thirty feet around the home, where cleaning possible fire fuels out is also important. 'What is the driest thing in this forest? This house. That goes for most homes. We dehumidify, we air condition them, we heat them. Our homes are basically reconstituted forest in dry conditions,' Robinson said. Metal screens of 1/8 of an inch or smaller are important around windows, vents, and skylights. It's small enough that most embers can't make it through, and won't melt like plastic. Even ledges on the outside of the home can be a place where embers build up and spark. Metal in those places can help prevent fire from igniting. After their assessment, the Sherwin family says they are applying for King County's cost-sharing program to lay gravel around the five feet around their home. John says seeing fires rage in urban areas like Southern California this year, Maui in 2023, and suburbs outside of Denver in the winter of 2021 has opened their eyes. 'By doing the work to harden our house, we're really helping stop the spread from structure to structure because that's something that can happen in the City of Issaquah,' John said. 90% of fires are caused by humans — something as mindless as flicking a cigarette, something as unintentional as chains dragging on pavement creating a spark, or sparks from cars and equipment — can turn into vast fires. Visit the following links for information on Firewise programs in your community: Eastside Fire & Rescue East Pierce Fire & Rescue Wildfire Ready Neighbors Firewise Program Fire Adapted Communities Ready, Set Go Evacuation Information
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Some fire-prone communities in WA are getting more help
More help is coming to some fire-prone communities in Washington. The Department of Natural Resources says it's turning over 15 surplus wildfire engines this spring. 'Local fire districts are a critical first line of defense against wildfire,' said George Geissler, DNR's State Forester and Deputy Supervisor responsible for Wildland Fire Management. 'They're an invaluable initial attack resource, able to reach ignitions early and keep them small. That rapid response time in turn benefits DNR by reducing the potential for larger, more severe wildfires that require multi-jurisdictional response. It is truly a win-win situation.' The engines were made possible through one of DNR's Fire District Assistance Programs. Here are the districts that will receive either an engine or engine accessories: City of Northport FD Clallam County 6 Coulee City FD JFPD Ferry 3 & Stevens 8 Franklin County 1 Grand Coulee FD Klickitat County 4 Klickitat County 10 Klickitat County 13 Lewis County 8 Lincoln County 1 Okanogan County 9 Skagit Regional Fire Authority Stevens County 3 Stevens County 11 Stevens County 13 Spokane County 12 Whitman County 13 'Strong working partnerships across the local, state and federal levels are so critical when it comes to fighting wildfire,' Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said. 'Suppression efforts are interconnected, often in ways many people aren't aware of. I'm committed to ensuring Washington's towns continue to have the tools they need to be prepared to defend against wildfire.' According to DNR, wildfires torched more than 300,000 acres across Washington last year. That's nearly double the 151,000 acres burned in 2023.
