2022 Wildfire Season Mildest Washington Has Seen in a Decade, DNR Announces in End of Season Update

The Chronicle, Centralia, Wash.
·2 min read

Oct. 7—This year to date, just over 140,300 acres have burned around Washington state, the fewest number of acres burned during fire season in a decade, according to an update by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Friday.

The years 2020 and 2021 were the second and third-worst fire seasons in the state's history, according to DNR.

"A combination of DNR equipment, aerial firefighting assets, personnel, partnerships with other agencies, as well as a wet and rainy spring that delayed the start of this year's fire season contributed to our success," said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, who leads DNR, in an end-of-season wildfire briefing at DNR's fire cache in Tumwater on Friday.

Franz highlighted the landmark legislation House Bill 1168, which was passed unanimously last year by the Washington state Legislature, as a key investment in preparing, preventing and fighting wildfire, according to a DNR news release.

The funding provided DNR with new crews and modernized equipment, including air resources that helped keep more than 94 percent of fires to 10 acres or less, according to the news release.

"House Bill 1168 provided DNR with new crews, increased fire suppression overhead and equipment, and a long-term commitment to making our state more resilient while simultaneously upgrading our effectiveness at preventing and suppressing wildland fire," Franz said.

While the moderate season has been a success, Franz reminded Washingtonians to stay vigilant and urged year-round use of fire prevention best practices, as large fires continue to burn in the state.

"Bolt Creek has reminded us that wildfire doesn't see boundaries," Franz said. "As climate change and other factors have worsened the length and impact of fire seasons, turning them instead into fire years, wildfire is no longer an eastside issue — it's a statewide one.

Franz was joined by DNR Wildfire Division Manager Russ Lane and State Forester George Geissler on Friday.

A stream of the briefing is available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerHilaryFranz.