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| Chiwaukum Creek wildfire, Washington 2014. Washington Department of Natural Resources. |
By Camille St. Onge, communications manager, Climate Change and Air Quality Program
Warmer and drier summer conditions mean increased wildfire risk is projected for 2015, and climate change modeling indicates these conditions are likely to become the norm in the decades ahead.
Weather models from the National Weather Service’s Climate
Prediction Center show another hot and dry summer is forecast for
Washington this year. And, climate scientists expect the area burned by fire each
year to double in the Northwest by the 2040s.
“While wildfires obviously pose an immediate threat to human
life, homes, property and forestland, they also cause less visible damage
through air pollution,” said Stu Clark, air quality program manager for the
Washington Department of Ecology. “Smoke from wildfires can cause respiratory
problems across a much wider area than the fire itself affects.”
Less snowpack sets up wildfire conditions
The average snowpack measured on April 1 in the Cascade Mountains
has decreased by about 20 percent since 1950. Climate models show declines in
snowpack are projected to continue because rising temperatures will cause winter
precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow.
Already in 2015, low snowpack has reduced moisture in
forestlands. Just last week Gov. Jay Inslee expanded the number of watersheds
under the state’s drought declaration to 24, covering nearly half the state.
“The dry conditions are of concern throughout Eastern Washington,”
said Clint Bowman, an atmospheric scientist with Ecology. “Summer thunderstorms
will bring the threat of lightning-caused wildfires.”
The Washington Department of Natural Resources has already reported
60 wildfires in 2015. That’s more than three times the average number of wildfires for this time of year.
Air quality affected by wildfire smoke
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| Air pollution (PM2.5) levels recorded by Ecology. |
In 2012, smoke pollution in towns and
cities near wildfires, such as Ellensburg, reached hazardous levels, causing
respiratory problems for many people in the community. Emergency room
visits doubled and 3,400 school absences caused by health issues tied to the
fires were reported in Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas and Okanogan counties.
In 2014, the Carlton Complex Fire, Washington’s largest wildfire
on record, swept through Eastern Washington. More than 425,000 acres of land
burned, 320 homes were destroyed and smoke pollution reached unhealthy levels
in many communities. Air monitors recorded spikes in
air pollution over several weeks. In total, there were 88 days with unhealthy
air quality levels during the 2014 wildfire season. That is more than three
times greater than a typical year like 2011, during which 23 unhealthy air
quality days were recorded.
Resources
Ecology has a statewide network of air monitors that
operate year round measuring air pollution and often times more are deployed during
wildfires. Visit Ecology’s air
monitoring web page to see air quality levels in your community.
The Department of Natural Resources is offering a series
of wildfire
preparedness meetings. These sessions will help property owners learn how
to combat potential damage to land and homes from wildfires.
Other resources:
Washington multi-agency smoke information website
Washington Department of Ecology
Washington Department of Natural
Resources
Washington Department of Health
