SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Potentially dangerous drought conditions are expected this summer across most of Washington.
The state’s Department of Ecology has made an emergency drought declaration.
This comes as we have seen drier and warmer conditions this year, which has lead to a lower snowpack.
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The entire state is under the drought emergency with the exception of the Everett, Seattle and Tacoma metro areas, for now. Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue Firefighters say having drought this early is concerning. The department dealt with the devastating Bolt Creek Wildfire in 2022.
“I’m pretty shocked to see it happen this early in the year,” Public Information Officer Peter Mongillo said. Firefighter Ray Sayah said, “In western Washington, we’ve been accustomed to a wet, dry climate. Wildland fires have been an afterthought. But more recently, in Western Washington, it’s become a concern that we’ve had.”
Sayah said they must be ready year-round and have already left key equipment like brush trucks in vulnerable areas because every second counts when battling a wildfire. This drought will create a lot of ripple effects.
The low snowpack can impact the energy and water supply and our agriculture. The early drought also means it is time for you to prepare as most wildfires whether accidental or on purpose, are caused by people.
“We’re really urging folks to look after the defensible space within the first couple dozen feet around their house. Make sure you’re keeping vegetation low. If there are tree branches, limb them up,” Sayah said.
Mongillo said, “We can have these droughts, try and deal with these droughts, but we don’t necessarily need to have these wildfires. Again, it’s human behavior that needs to change.”
Mongillo added, “It’s here now. It’s soon to be May, and we’re going to be having wildfires. It’s concerning, but most of all, we’re prepared.”