Nearly 700,000 acres burned across Washington during this year’s fire season. That’s about three and a half times the size of all five New York City boroughs. The National Weather Service says the combination of an early start to the fire season, a lack of snowpack and a lack of precipitation led to a fire season the likes of which we’ve rarely seen in the past 55 years.

According to NWS, this year’s fire season produced the third most acres burned in the Spokane area in one year since 1970.

Looking forward, the NWS says there are a variety of factors that we could see in the coming months that can potentially impact how much damage we see during fire weather next year, especially with a strong El Nino potentially affecting our winter.

“Because the temperatures do skew warmer, the precipitation that we get frequently falls as rain rather than snow and mountain snow, making it hard to build a durable mountain snowpack,” said Valerie Thaler, lead meteorologist at NWS.

NWS says even though we may see warmer temperatures and less snow this winter, that doesn’t spell disaster for next year’s fire season. The true markers will be the temperatures and amount of precipitation happening early next summer.

KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

The post National Weather Service predicts potential impacts on next year’s fire season appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

All Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation orders for the Three Queens, King and Goat Fires have been lifted. Kittitas County officials said that although evacuations have been lifted, many nearby areas are still under closure orders from the U.S. Forest Service. Visitors are urged to check closures on the Forest Service website before entering the area.

Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office officials said the Three Queens Fire is 45% contained and is staffed with smokejumpers and local firefighting resources. Creeping and smoldering fire has been spotted in areas where firefighters cannot reach, and smoke persists despite cooler temperatures. Although some rain has fallen, firefighters said conditions are unseasonably dry and the rain has not significantly impacted the fire.

KCSO officials said the Forest Service fire area will likely remain closed to the public until fire season is finally over in order to protect public safety.

Apple Valley News Now

The post All evacuation orders lifted for Three Queens Fire and other nearby wildfires appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The wreckage of a small airplane that went missing in Okanogan County has been found. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), search & rescue teams found the aircraft wreckage in Aeneas Valley near Tonasket around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Both the pilot, 61-year-old Nicolas Grachanin, and his passenger Jim Merik were found dead inside the plane, according to officials. The families have been notified.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is searching for a missing plane near Okanogan. According to a press release, on Saturday, the 1976 Piper Club aircraft was reported missing in the vicinity of US-97 near Okanogan.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

The post Wreckage of missing plane found near Tonasket, says Okanogan County Sheriff appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

A Concord Fire Department engine was struck by a passing vehicle while crews responded to a crash on I-85 in Concord.

The post Concord (NC) Fire Engine Struck by Passing Vehicle at Accident Scene appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Windsor Severance Fire Rescue is asking voters to approve Ballot Issue 7F, a 4-mill property tax increase over 10 years to fund staffing, equipment, stations, and a fifth station.

The post OH Fire Rescue Agency Proposes Tax to Fund Maintenance, New Station appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.