Latest news with #Rodruck
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hot, dry weather conditions launch earlier start to WA wildfire season
The Brief Washington's wildfire season is starting early due to dangerously dry conditions, increasing fire risks. Human activities, like unattended campfires and fireworks, are major causes of wildfires in the state. Despite budget cuts, DNR is prepared to fight fires and urges public caution to prevent sparks. OLYMPIA, Wash. - This year's wildfire season in Washington has the potential to be destructive and explosive. Officials with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the landscapes are dangerously dry, which has increased fire risks earlier in the season than usual. "We are definitely in the fire season now," said Ryan Rodruck, wildfire communications manager for the DNR. "We have extremely hot and extremely dry conditions. Typically, we will see somewhat of a moderate ramp up into fire season, but we are in the season now and those fires are starting to materialize on the landscape." The DNR reported about 90% of wildfires in Washington are human-caused. With the drought conditions drying out vegetation, Rodruck said something like throwing a lit cigarette butt on the ground or dragging chains from a vehicle could spark the flames. "It's an unattended campfire, it's an inappropriately ignited burn pile, or a burn pile that was possibly done in conditions that were too windy or too dry. Of course, during the Fourth of July and around that time, it's fireworks. Any cause that you would think where humans can start a fire, those sparks can get on the landscape," said Rodruck. Protecting the landscape could be a challenge this season. Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands, posted a statement to Facebook, saying Governor Bob Ferguson signed a state budget that cut funding in half for wildfire prevention, readiness, and response. Upthegrove's statement continued, saying, "Now is not the time to cut back on our ability to protect our state's lands, forests, and communities from the restless - and rising - threat of wildfires." Despite those budget changes, the DNR said it has everything it needs to fight fires within its jurisdiction. "We are well-prepared for the exercise of any mutual aid agreements we would have with our fire district partners and local fire resources. Despite the fact that we are predicting the above-average season, DNR is ready and able to address those fires that happen in the state of Washington," said Rodruck. Still, those firefighters need the public's help protecting the land. Rodruck said the DNR is urging all people to be responsible this wildfire season. "Caution is more important than ever as we enter into our fire season for the year," said Rodruck. "Help your firefighters by keeping those sparks off the landscape when it's this hot and this dry." Fire officials said it's not too late for people to create a defensible space around their property, especially for those who live and work in the wildland urban interface. That protection includes removing dry brush and dead vegetation leaning on and surrounding the property. "It's more important than ever that you are abiding by those burn restrictions that you make sure that you are recreating safely," said Rodruck. "Be aware of your responsibility with fire as we enter a period of hot, dry weather, and a hot, dry fire season." The Source Information in this story came from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove. Search for Travis Decker: Authorities identify 'new details, new search areas' in WA Former Army squadmate shares insight into Travis Decker's military past Woman dies after Seattle house fire; arson investigation underway Miles Hudson found guilty on 2 counts of reckless driving in Seattle 11 injured after teen speeds, causes fiery crash in Lacey Man hurt after shooting near University of Washington 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
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters in western WA train for possibility of 'above average' wildfire season
The Brief Wildfires are now an annual threat in western Washington, intensified by climate change. Fire agencies across the state are proactively preparing and training for an "above average" wildfire season. Public cooperation is crucial, as over 85% of wildfires are human-caused, officials warn. NORTH BEND, Wash. - Once a rare occurrence, wildfires have become an annual threat in western Washington. Fire agencies in the region said the risk intensifies every year due to climate change. Now, crews are proactively preparing themselves and the public for the upcoming season. "People need to understand that it's time to prepare. It's time to harden your home. It's time to be ready for those fires that are going to occur in western Washington on the wildland urban interface," said Ryan Rodruck, the state lands and wildfire communications manager for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Big picture view Firefighters from 16 regional agencies participated in the annual "Ready, Set, Go!" Evacuation and Wildfire Firefighting Demonstration Day, held in North Bend. The yearly training gives wildland firefighters an opportunity to join forces to spread awareness of emergency evacuation procedures, provide education about wildfire mitigation practices, and demonstrate wildfire firefighting techniques. "There are fires now happening in western Washington that we need to be prepared for. We just witnessed it in Palisades. Those people weren't prepared for what occurred," said Seth Merritt, battalion chief with Eastside Fire & Rescue. Merritt was one of four members from Eastside Fire & Rescue that were called to help in the destructive Palisades Wildfire in California. It scorched nearly 24,000 acres full of homes and businesses in January. Washington experienced similar devastation with the Sumner-Grade Fire in 2020, and the Bolt Creek Fire in 2022. Merritt said lessons learned from all those fires help local agencies train their crews for the possibility of more threats. "It's learning how to work with each other's equipment, with each other's processes so that when the incident does happen, we're better prepared," said Merritt. "There's new firefighters and seasoned veterans that are out here going through this training, working together, going through different stations in that training." Though it's still early in the year, the DNR is already estimating this could be an "above average" wildfire season. "We have the aircraft we need. We have the resources we need, and we're well-prepared to serve the residence of the state of Washington," said Rodruck. "DNR is very well-prepared to address those fires that occur under our protection, but it's very important for folks to help us in fighting those fires and have a plan and harden your home." While the DNR is prepared to fight the flames in its jurisdiction, Rodruck said some federal resources could be in question in the future. "We have had some concerns over those federal cuts. DNR as a state agency is prepared to address those fires that happen on our jurisdiction. I think what's concerning is the lack of communication that has come from the federal government while they've been making changes to wildfire," said Rodruck. Officials with other agencies, like Eastside, said they have added more resources to better equip themselves for the upcoming and future wildfire seasons. "We've upped our preparedness level. We've added hose and tool compliments to our first-out engines so that we're more ready to deal with wildland. We also are adding two new brush trucks next week, which brings our brush truck fleet to the highest it's ever been with six," said Merritt. The local, county and state fire agencies said its crews are prepared for the wildland fire season. However, they are still relying on members of the public to use caution and help reduce the risk. King County Emergency Management said more than 85% of wildland fires are caused by humans. "The risk in western Washington is greatly increasing," said Brendan McCluskey, director of King County Emergency Management. McCluskey said part of the annual wildland fire training is also teaching crews how to educate community members on wildfire preparedness and mitigation practices. He said property owners can start their preparations by creating a safety plan, especially when responding to the three levels of evacuation, "Ready, Set, Go." "We want people to understand that when an evacuation order is issued, we want them to pay attention to it. We also want them to do things like have a kit ready, including a kit in their car. Have a plan to evacuate where they're going to go. And be able to get messages to things like Alert King County," said McCluskey. The Source Information in this story came from Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Eastside Fire & Rescue and King County Emergency Management. Recovery effort underway after boat sinks in Possession Sound near Everett, WA Shawn Kemp lawyers claim bias in Tacoma Mall shooting case as trial nears Federal judge blocks Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education 'Where is Teekah?': Mother speaks out after Tacoma, WA cold case Activist marks 2 weeks in tree to protest logging near Port Angeles Driver arrested after deadly crash in Kent, WA 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.
