This guide walks through air brake systems in a way that helps you understand not just how they work but how to choose between the two main options: drum brakes and air disc brakes.

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Six large wildfires remain active in Washington as forecasters warn that hot, dry weather will elevate fire danger across much of the state, though cooler temperatures and a chance of showers are expected to bring some relief later in the week.

According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Washington is home to six of the nine “large” fires currently burning across the Pacific Northwest. The fires range from several hundred acres to more than 24,000 acres, all located east of the Cascades. “Large” wildland fires are defined as those having 100 acres in timber fuel or 300 acres in grass fuel.

The largest active Washington fires include:

• 4170 Tule Road Fire near Toppenish: 24,090 acres, 95% contained.
• Juniper Dunes Fire near Pasco: 13,003 acres, 90% contained.
• Kartar Fire southeast of Omak: 11,679 acres, 15% contained.
• Tucannon Mutual Aid Fire north of Dayton: 8,031 acres, 50% contained.
• Roza Fire north of Selah: 3,536 acres, 95% contained.
• Upriver Fire east of Spokane: 213 acres, 75% contained.

Fire officials expect conditions to become increasingly favorable for fire growth through midweek as temperatures climb and humidity levels fall. The National Weather Service in Seattle said hot and dry weather will return in earnest across western Washington, with relative humidity dropping into the 20% range or lower in some interior valleys through Tuesday. Forecasters noted that grasses are curing rapidly and have already contributed to several roadside brush fires in recent days.

Despite the heat, fire experts emphasized that western Washington is not facing the same level of concern as areas east of the Cascades.Officials continue to classify significant fire potential across western Washington as “low to moderate.” The Northwest Coordination Center reported that larger fuels, including vegetation that can take roughly 100 hours to dry out, are reaching unusually and even potentially record-setting levels of dryness for this point in the season. That means more vegetation is becoming available to burn if a fire starts.

Relief may be on the horizon. Forecasters expect a weather pattern change beginning Wednesday as a low-pressure system drops south from the Gulf of Alaska. The shift is expected to bring cooler temperatures, stronger onshore flow and increasing chances of showers beginning Thursday night continuing into next weekend.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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Four separate fires sparked in Prosser on Monday, according to Benton County Fire District 5 Chief Scott Hawley. Two of the fires were near the intersection of West Sellards Road and South Lincoln Road, the other two along South Ward Gap Road. No losses or injuries were reported as a result of the fires.

Benton County Fire Districts 1, 2, 5 and 6 responded, along with Klickitat County Fire District 10, Franklin County Fire District 3 and the Richland Fire Department. The fires along West Sellards and Lincoln grew to around 2 to 3 acres, and around 100 acres along South Ward Gap. The causes of the fires have not been determined, BCFD 5 said.

KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

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Rescuers helped a hiker off the Little Mount Si Trail near North Bend after he suffered a medical emergency Sunday morning, according to an Eastside Fire and Rescue spokesperson. Eastside Fire crews responded around 5:57 a.m. to the trailhead in the 43900 block of Southeast Mount Si Road. The man experienced the medical emergency about a half-mile up the trail.

A nurse who was hiking with the group provided aid before first responders arrived. Rescuers reached the patient and helped him off the trail within about 40 minutes. The man recovered enough to assist with the walk out once crews arrived, according to the spokesperson. No additional information about the man’s condition was immediately available.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Around 30 people have been displaced after a fire at an apartment complex on Lake Road in Clarkson on Sunday morning that involved 21 units.

The Brockport Fire District says it took 14 fire companies from Monroe, Orleans, and Genesee counties to battle the flames. Crews got the first call just before 5 a.m.

Several Monroe ambulance services were on the scene, and the fire district says four people were treated and later released.

No firefighters were injured, and BFD says one person was rescued and carried out by firefighters. The fire destroyed the roof of the building, and the base of the building is now fenced off.

The displaced victims were brought to BFD’s station across the street, and the American Red Cross is helping them. Two cats and an iguana were also rescued by firefighters, according to BFD.

The fire district says the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Monroe County Fire Bureau’s Investigation Unit.

WHEC-TV NBC 10 Rochester

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