2020 Washington wildfires

The 2020 Washington wildfire season officially began in March 2020. Based on environmental factors and forest conditions, the Washington–Oregon wildfires were was projected to be the worst in the United States during 2020.[1] Firefighting was expected to be complicated by personnel and resource shortages, and lack of training, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington.[2][3] By mid-May, one Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighter had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and officials weren't sure how to get crews across quarantine boundaries and into Washington.[4] Experts said another effect may be that plans to fight fires would be scaled back and many 2020 fires would be left to burn.[3]

2020 Washington wildfires
Statistics
Date(s)March 2020-present
Season
← 2019
2021 →

Department of Natural Resources training began June 19 outside Hamilton, Washington in Skagit County. According to the Skagit Valley Herald, interagency training in Washington that usually involves federal, state and local firefighting agencies was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.[5]

Fires

On April 16, two fires were burning: the Stanwood Bryant Fire in Snohomish County (70 acres) and the Porter Creek Fire in Whatcom County (80 acres).[6]

References
  1. "Washington, Oregon expected to have worst fire season in the country". Tacoma: KCPQ. May 19, 2020.
  2. Katherine Long (March 27, 2020). "Coronavirus could make fighting Washington wildfires harder". Crosscut.com. Agencies that prepare for wildfires and recruit firefighters are busy responding to the pandemic. That could be a problem come summer.
  3. Levi Pulkkinen (June 1, 2020), "Some WA wildfires may be left to burn this summer", Crosscut.com, Coronavirus concerns will have firefighters living differently and likely doing less.
  4. James Drew (May 16, 2020). "Washington state braces for wildfire season as firefighter tests positive for COVID-19". Tacoma News Tribune – via KIRO. Newly released national plans for fighting wildfires during the coronavirus pandemic are hundreds of pages long but don't offer many details on how fire managers will get access to COVID-19 tests or exactly who will decide when a crew needs to enter quarantine.
  5. Kimberly Cauvel (June 21, 2020). "Firefighters prepare for wildfire season during pandemic". Skagit Valley Herald. Mount Vernon, Washington.
  6. Dyer Oxley (April 16, 2020). "Looking ahead to Washington's summer: Hotter and drier than normal, with a wildfire threat". Seattle: KUOW-FM.
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