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2014 Washington wildfires

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2014 Washington state wildfires
The Carlton Complex on July 21, 2014
Date(s)July 8, 2014 (2014-07-08) — present
LocationNorthern and central Washington state
Statistics
Burned area350,000 acres (547 sq mi; 1,420 km2)
Land useForest, grassland, rural, urban
Impacts
Deaths1
Structures destroyed300

The 2014 Washington state wildfires are a large number of wildfires, primarily occurring on the east side of the Cascade Range in Chelan and Okanogan counties. The fires are burning on private land, state land, and within the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. Over 350,000 acres (550 sq mi; 1,400 km2) acres have burned. The first fire began on July 8 near the Entiat River. On July 14 a lightning storm started dozens more fires across the eastern Cascade Range.[1] Governor Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency, activating the Washington National Guard.[2] More lightning strikes later in the summer started additional fires.

Mills Canyon Fire

The Mills Canyon Fire has burned 22,571 acres (35.3 sq mi; 91.3 km2), all within Chelan County. The fire was located south of the Entiat River and west of Highway 97A and the Columbia River in the Entiat Mountains. It started on July 8 and the cause is under investigation.[1]

July 14 lightning-strike fires

Satellite image of smoke plumes, July 18, 2014

A number of fires were started by lightning strikes on July 14.

Carlton Complex

Carlton complex fire scar in false-color infrared, July 31, 2014. Burned vegetation appears red, and the most severely burned areas are generally the darkest. Unburned forests appear dark green. Actively growing farmland is bright green; unburned grasslands and brushlands are tan; and rivers are navy blue. Scale bar at lower left is 5km (3 mi.)

The Carlton Complex, covering 256,108 acres (400.2 sq mi; 1,036 km2) as of August 11, 2014, began as four separate lightning-caused fires on July 14 in the Methow River valley of Okanogan County: the Cougar Flat, French Creek, Gold Hike, and Stokes fires. These fires merged and rapidly spread southeast on July 17, burning approximately 300 homes in and around the towns of Pateros and Malott as well as in more rural areas.[3] The communities of Brewster, Carlton, and Methow were also threatened by fire. Power was lost to the communities of Twisp and Winthrop. Road closures included Washington State Route 20 east of Twisp towards Loup Loup Pass, Washington State Route 153 between Twisp and Pateros, and U.S. Route 97 between Pateros and Brewster.[4][5] Rain slowed the fire on July 24, allowing crews to reach 60% containment by July 26.[6] A new fire started along Highway 20 south of Winthrop on August 1.[5]

The Carlton Complex is now the largest wildfire in Washington state's recorded history, surpassing the 1902 Yacolt Burn.[7] One death, caused by a heart attack, has been blamed on the fire.[7] Fire fighting efforts included nearly 3,000 personnel and numerous aircraft, including seven Uh-60 BlackHawk helicopters from the Washington National Guard and a DC-10 Air Tanker.[6]

Chiwaukum Creek Fire

Located northwest of Leavenworth in the Chiwaukum Mountains, this fire has burned 13,895 acres (21.7 sq mi; 56.2 km2). It required the closure of Highway 2 and the evacuation of nearly 900 homes, threatening the communities of Coles Corner, Winton, and Plain.[8][4] A pyrocumulus cloud could be seen rising above the fire from as far away as Seattle.[2] The Chiwaukum Creek Fire is burning partly within the northeastern boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Duncan Fire

Covering 12,659 acres (20 sq mi; 51 km2), the Duncan Fire is located in the upper Entiat River drainage. It began on a ridge between the Entiat River and the North Fork Entiat River, but has since spread east across the North Fork.[9][8][10]

Kelly Mountain Fire

Located in the Entiat Mountains near Tommy Creek, the Kelly Mountain Fire has burned 124 acres (0.2 sq mi; 0.5 km2).[8]

Lone Mountain Fire

Burning in the Boulder Creek drainage northeast of Stehekin, the Lone Mountain Fire has burned 2,770 acres (4.3 sq mi; 11 km2). It is located within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, part of the North Cascades National Park Complex.[11][12]

August 2 lightning-strike fires

  • Hansel Fire - 1,016 acres (2 sq mi; 4 km2). The Hansel Fire is burning near Ingalls Creek and Highway 97 in Chelan County.[8]
  • Little Bridge Creek Fire - 4,896 acres (7.6 sq mi; 20 km2). Located between the Twisp River and Highway 20 in Okanogan County.[14]
  • Upper Falls Fire - 8,118 acres (13 sq mi; 33 km2). This fire is burning in the Okanogan National Forest west of the Chewuch River.[17]

South Cle Elum Ridge Fire

This fire was reported on August 7 on the Wenatchee National Forest southwest of Cle Elum in Kittitas County and has burned 894 acres (1.4 sq mi; 3.6 km2).[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mills Canyon Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Wildfire near Leavenworth closes stretch of Highway 2". Seattle Times and wire services. YakimaHerald.com. 2014-07-17. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19.
  3. ^ "Homes destroyed by wildfire total 300, Okanogan sheriff says". The Associated Press. The Seattle Times. 2014-07-25. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27.
  4. ^ a b Geranios, Nicholas K.; Johnson, Gene (2014-07-19). "Damage from Washington Wildfires 'Hard to Believe'". The Associated Press. Boston.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19.
  5. ^ a b "Carlton Complex". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Crews plan controlled burn near Carlton complex wildfire". The Seattle Times. 2014-07-26. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27.
  7. ^ a b O'Sullivan, Joseph (2014-07-21). "Firefighting crews hunker down for long haul". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2014-07-21.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Chiwaukum Complex". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Fire Update for Mills Canyon, Chiwaukum, Kelly MT n, & Duncan Fires". InciWeb: Incident Information System. 2014-07-19. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19.
  10. ^ "Duncan Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Lone Mountain Fire Update—July 21st a.m." North Cascades National Park, U.S. National Park Service. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. ^ "Lone Mountain 1 Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Devil's Elbow Complex". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Little Bridge Creek Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  15. ^ "Snag Canyon Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  16. ^ Rosbach, Molly (2014-08-03). "Snag Canyon fire destroys 6 homes; area reduced to 1,830 acres". Yakima Herald-Republic. Archived from the original on 2014-08-03.
  17. ^ "Upper Falls Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  18. ^ "South Cle Elum Ridge Fire". InciWeb: Incident Information System. Retrieved 8 August 2014.

Further reading

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