Washington, Oregon projected to have worst wildfire seasons in the U.S.
If it's a more severe wildfire season, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz says wildfire-fighting costs could surpass the fire suppression budget, forcing the state to tap into its emergency rainy day fund.
Washington expected to have worst wildfire season in US
Despite the rainy, chilly weather, Washington is preparing for a severe wildfire season.
Officials: PG&E power lines caused California wildfire that killed 85
Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. power lines caused a fire that killed 85 people — the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history, California fire officials said Wednesday.
Community prepares Thanksgiving feast for Camp Fire victims, first responders
LINCOLN, Calif. - Neighbors in Lincoln, California, are preparing a massive feast for the victims and first responders of the destructive and deadly Camp Fire.It began as a Facebook post, looking for people with a similar goal, according to KTXL."So many of us felt like, ‘What can we do?’” organizer Kris Wyatt said. “We just felt so helpless."Jeannette Bermudez reached out to Wyatt and before they realized there were dozens within their community who also wanted to help."It was just blossoming and then even just last night, I mean there was like 400 people that were sharing the Facebook post,” Bermudez said.That was just in one night.
'A lot of destruction': Several local firefighting teams return home from California wildfires
Several local firefighting teams returned from California Sunday after helping battle the Camp and Woolsey fires in the northern and southern parts of the state.
'I have to take action': Volunteers in Fife drive donations to California fire victims
FIFE, Wash. -- People from across the area are pitching in to send donations to victims of the California wildfires.
Strangers buy playing cards for evacuee with autism after Camp Fire burns his collection
When the Humbert family had to evacuate because of the Camp Fire last week, Carla Humbert thought they’d be back in their house soon.
Lands commissioner seeks $55M for wildfires response and prevention
Washington's Public Lands Commissioner wants lawmakers to increase the amount of money that the state spends to fight wildfires and prevent future blazes.
Wildfires cost Oregon Shakespeare Festival $2 million
The famed Oregon Shakespeare Festival that attracts tourists from around the world says it lost $2 million this summer because wildfire smoke forced it to cancel more than two dozen outdoor performances.
At least 1/3 of Washington wildfires could have been prevented
Fifteen large wildfires are burning across Washington state as wildfire season continues into early September. This week, we learned many of these fires could have been prevented.
Folks in Port Townsend feel the effects of 3rd straight day of smoky conditions
PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. - For the third straight day, our area has been covered in unhealthy haze from wildfires, and some people say they are feeling the effects.“I did notice a stuffy nose, and stuffy throat.
Smoky air doesn't dull Seattle's shine as a tourist stop -- yet
SEATTLE -- The skies at high noon are much darker than a normal August day.
Verizon slowed our data as we fought massive wildfire, chief says
Anxiety over how the absence of net neutrality rules could affect things has manifested itself in California.Ars Technica reports on a new lawsuit that includes a statement from Santa Clara County Fire Chief Anthony Bowden alleging Verizon throttled the fire department's data services (specifically tied to its vehicle OES 5262, which uses a Verizon SIM card to get online) while it was in the midst of fighting the state's wildfires.To make things worse, Bowden adds, "Verizon imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling" was curtailing the department's emergency response.His declaration is an addendum to a legal challenge against the FCC filed by nearly two dozen state attorneys general and a slew of government agencies looking to overturn the repeal of net neutrality rules that went into effect in June.Ars Technica details the email back-and-forth—starting in late June and continuing as the Mendocino Complex Fire raged on—between Verizon and fire officials, including one in which a fire IT officer begs, "Please work with us."Even though the fire department had an "unlimited" data plan, Ars Technica notes big carriers sometimes slow things when a certain amount of data is exceeded.A Verizon rep eventually convinced the department to upgrade from a monthly $37.99 data plan to a $99.99 one.
Falling ash, smoky skies: What's exactly in that air?
SEATTLE -- The ash falling from wildfires onto cars and patio furniture around Puget Sound can be psychologically impactful, but it's not as dangerous as what you CAN'T see in the air.When organic plant material burns, most often it creates very microscopic particles that are in the smoke that billows out of wildfires.
Face masks being used by some braving unhealthy smoky conditions
KENT, Wash – Health experts are warning everyone to limit activity outdoors while the smoke hangs in the air, but barely anyone can put on hold what they have to get done.That includes Chelsea Jensen and her five kids, who had business in Kent Tuesday morning.“We we’re just hanging out at the library.
Seattle closes public outdoor pools, wading pools due to poor air quality
SEATTLE -- Seattle Parks and Recreation announced it was closing its outdoor pools and wading pools Tuesday and Wednesday due to the poor air quality."We are closing our two outdoor pools, Colman Pool (8603 Fauntleroy Way SW) and Mounger Pool (2535 32nd Ave.
Does wearing a face mask protect from wildfire smoke?
Wildfire smoke contains very small particles and gases that can irritate your eyes and lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases, especially in children and older adults. So should you be wearing a mask?
Ash from wildfires falls while smoky, 'unhealthy' air chokes Washington state
Smoke from wildfires clogged the sky, blotting out mountains and city skylines, delaying flights and forcing authorities to tell even healthy adults in the Seattle area to stay indoors.
AAA tips on what to do to protect your vehicle from wildfire smoke and ash
SEATTLE -- AAA has provided these 10 things that you can do to protect your vehicle from wildfire smoke and ash:
Children more vulnerable than adults to unhealthy air quality
SEATTLE -- At the Magnuson Park YMCA, jumping rope inside is replacing scavenger hunts outside.“It's absolutely a challenge, especially since we have 250-plus kids here every week,” Miranda Gadau said Monday.So the YMCA has to get creative, partnering with other places to get all summer camps inside.“We also sent some kids bowling and roller-skating so anything we can do to keep them inside and have fun,” Gadau said.“Luckily for us, the YMCA of Greater Seattle has 13 locations across King County so we can take kids to gyms, we can take kids to indoor pools,” Andy Sharpe of YMCA saidSharpe says summer camps will remain indoors until the air quality improves and for good reason.“Kids have a higher respiratory rate just at baseline, so they tend to be more active and they breathe in, they breathe a lot compared to how small they are,” Dr.