More than 98% of US residents now live in an area where there is a "high" or "substantial" risk of COVID-19 community transmission, up from 19% of residents only a month ago. This sharp turn has been driven in large part by the highly infectious Delta variant and low vaccination rates in many regions.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN Health

A large brush fire in South Hill is contained after crews from multiple departments responded to the area Wednesday afternoon. The fire was in the area of 160th Street East and 74th Avenue East. A Level 1 evacuation order was lifted around 4:30 p.m. Two sections of road remained closed overnight so power and fire crews can continue working.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

A large brushfire burned along southbound I-5 near NE 130th St in North Seattle Wednesday afternoon. Crews with the Seattle Fire Department say they have the fire under control and are working on putting out hotspots. Several lanes of traffic were blocked while crews worked to extinguish the flames.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

VIDEO: Can a forest be modified to make it less likely to burn? That's what Washington's wildfire experts have been testing in Okanogan County, where a major wildfire burned hundreds of acres that were treated to make the forest healthier and more fire-resistant -- and they're finding the results are mixed.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING 5 News Seattle

The current heat wave is bringing a Fire Weather Watch for most of North Central Washington through Thursday from the National Weather Service. That means there’s the possibility of rapid spread of new or existing wildfires. The Cedar Creek Fire, along with the adjacent Cub Creek Fire in Okanogan County are the two major fires currently burning in the region.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2021 7:35:57 PM - SOURCE: KPQ-AM 560