Wildfires burning around Spokane, Washington, have destroyed more than 800 structures, including homes and businesses, burned more than 10,000 acres and forced more than 65,000 people to evacuate. The fires offer a warning for people living in fire-prone areas across the country.
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Why the Spokane Fires Are So Destructive
The three fires around Spokane are not the largest in Washington this year, but they are among the most destructive. The number of acres burned could change as firefighters work to contain the blazes, and many people’s lives have been disrupted.
Most fires reported this year in Washington and Oregon have started naturally, but the three fires around Spokane are believed to have been human-caused. Authorities have accused one person of arson. According to court documents and prosecutors, the man had reportedly planned the fire for weeks and has been linked to other fires in the area.
Bobbie Scopa, who has 44 years of experience fighting fires, described what happens when a wildfire reaches the first home in a subdivision. Embers can touch gutters and rooftops, allowing flames to sweep from house to house. At that point, firefighters may refer to the event as an urban conflagration rather than a wildfire.
Why Fire Season Is Getting Longer
In some parts of the country, residents no longer feel they have a specific fire season because fires can burn throughout the year. Land-management challenges, including less prescribed burning, can allow fires to start and spread more quickly.
Many people live in what is known as the wildland-urban interface, where homes and neighborhoods meet timber-heavy or conservation areas. Residents may object to the risks of prescribed fires near their homes, but the resulting buildup of vegetation can increase fire danger.
Warmer temperatures and longer droughts create more fuel for fires. Periods of intense rain can also cause underbrush to grow, only for it to die when drought returns. Fire seasons can start earlier, last longer and leave fires smoldering for weeks even after they are considered contained.
Experts say climate change is at least partly responsible for warmer temperatures and longer droughts. In the Pacific Northwest, a strong El Niño could bring less rain as the jet stream shifts, potentially worsening drought and wildfire risks in the months ahead. More than 80 uncontained large wildfires are currently burning in more than a dozen states, according to the report.
How Homeowners Can Reduce Fire Risk
Homeowners in fire-prone areas can take steps to make their properties safer. Maintaining a clear perimeter around a home can give fire trucks room to arrive, turn around and spray the fire.
Homeowners can also choose less-flammable plants and mulch for areas around the house. Keeping gutters clean and using materials less likely to catch fire can help make a property more resistant if flames reach the neighborhood.
Looking ahead, the forecast is mixed. Depending on how El Niño affects the jet stream, the upper part of the country could receive little rain while the lower part receives more. If heavy rain causes vegetation to grow and a later shift to La Niña brings drier conditions, some areas could face increased fire risk after that growth dries out.
This article is adapted from reporting by USA TODAY.
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