Eastern Washington land managed by the state Department of Natural Resources will be closed indefinitely to recreation beginning Friday.
Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said Tuesday the risk of fires and danger to the public were too great to keep trails, campgrounds and other recreation sites open.
Franz announced the closure during a tour of hills blackened by the Red Apple Fire near Wenatchee. It breaks my heart that we ve reached this point where we have to take drastic action, she said.
The Red Apple Fire was one of nine fires of at least 150 acres burning in Eastern Washington on Tuesday. The Red Apple, Lick Creek and Chuweah Creek fires all exceeded 10,000 acres.
Oregon outpacing historic 2020 wildfire season ktvz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ktvz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Oregons Bootleg Fire is torching an area larger than NYC. Firefighters are scrambling to contain it.
Oregons Bootleg Fire is torching an.
The fast-moving Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon has scorched an area thousands of acres larger than New York City - prompting new evacuations and increasing concerns over thinning resources as the state enters the highest level of wildfire preparedness.
The conflagration is one of thousands of wildfires torching areas as far east as Minnesota, signs of another potentially dire fire season. We are seeing conditions that we usually see in mid-August, said Alison Green, public affairs director for the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshals. It s been extreme fire behavior over the last week that has created conditions that are certainly challenging.
Oregon s Bootleg Fire is torching an area larger than NYC Firefighters are scrambling to contain it washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Gov. Inslee issues emergency drought declaration for Washington state
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FILE Washington Gov. Jay Inslee addresses a news conference on Monday, March 16, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, Pool)Elaine Thompson/APShow MoreShow Less
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Fires burning in the Pacific Northwest as of Wednesday.Northwest Interagency Coordination CenterShow MoreShow Less
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The wildfires burning near Mazama were sparked by lightening.U.S. Forest Service - Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Show MoreShow Less
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Portion of North Cascades Highway to close for wildfire response.WSDOT East via TwitterShow MoreShow Less
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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency drought declaration across most of the state on Wednesday.