Washington officials warn wildfire season far from over as 15 large fires burn statewide

by Michelle Esteban , KOMO News Reporter SEATTLE — As cooler weather begins to hint at fall in Washington, fire officials warn it “couldn’t be further from the truth as far as an end in sight for wildfire season.” Thomas Kyle-Milward, DNR'S Wildfire Communications Manager, said the Hill Loop Fire in Stevens County “popped onto the landscape last night” at 127 acres. He said the state now has 15 large uncontained fires on the landscape with more than 800,000 acres burned so far this year.” SEE ALSO | Clearing wildfire smoke in western Washington creates more dangerous fire weather east "Washington is comfortably in the third-worst fire season from an acres burned perspective since 2015," said Kyle-Milward. He called this year's wildfire season very challenging, noting that the state has had multiple fires over 100,000 acres. He added human activity remains a major driver of wildfire starts. “Human-caused fires are in 80 to 90 % of ignitions every year in Washington and across the country,” he said.

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