Welcome to the wildfire season in Washington state. It officially started last week and continues until Oct. 15.

But with all the snow in the mountains this year, officials say they hope for a mild fire season in the forests.

It's a different story in the Yakima Valley, though, says West Valley Fire Chief Nathan Craig.

"All the new grass and new growth is going to come on strong this spring and then it'll start to dry out in the summer and be ready to burn again," Craig says. "So be careful."
Craig suggests you do you spring cleanup now. Create a green space around your home or property to prepare for the heat, he recommends.

State officials say while mountain basins currently have an above-average snow pack, the risk of wildfires can change rapidly during spring’s warmer, dryer weather. Among other things, they say that means people working in the woods or clearing land need to have fire prevention equipment on hand.
Last year, more than 16,400 acres of DNR-protected lands were consumed by 807 wildfires. Ninety percent were human-caused.

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