Hot, dry June triggers alarm about forest fires

The warm, balmy days of June set at least one record and left much of Washington dry — to the point that officials are warning about the coming danger of forest fires, starting this holiday weekend.

Lowland grassland is extremely vulnerable, and within weeks most of the state's big-timbered forests are expected to be extremely dry. This year, some 241 fires have occurred, compared with 47 fires at this time last year.

"We ask everyone to be careful and please pay attention to any and all fire-related activities. People must use extreme caution when using fireworks," said Doug Sutherland, commissioner of public lands.

People should think through all the ways they might accidentally start a fire, Sutherland said, in their yards, when visiting state forests or when traveling Washington's back roads.

Currently, two major wildfires are charring Eastern Washington hillsides. One at Pot Peak near Lake Chelan has scorched about 1,900 acres; the other is at Hopkins Canyon on the Colville Indian Reservation, where crews are battling a blaze that has consumed 4,300 acres. Both fires were started by lightning Saturday.

June's average temperature was 2.7 degrees above normal and precipitation for the month — .81 inches — was well below normal (1.49 inches), according to data collected at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The last drop of measurable moisture landed June 14.

For forecasters, though, June "wasn't really remarkable," said Brent Bower, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Seattle.

"The only interesting thing in temperature were the six days in the middle of the month — five of those days were 80 degrees and above — with record-breaking high temperature at 88 degrees June 20." The temperature also hit 88 June 21.

Aside from the heat, freak tornadoes reported in May struck again in early June. Three twisters slammed the state; the closest to Seattle struck Stanwood on June 5.

Throughout the spring, the utilities have been carefully watching reservoirs, and the news is good.

"We're in very good shape in terms of water supply," said Susan Stoltzfus, a Seattle Public Utilities spokeswoman.

Due mainly to storms in late May, the water level at Chester Morse Lake, the Cedar River's reservoir, is 1-1/2 feet above average this year. The Tolt River reservoir is about 5 feet below average, but Stoltzfus said that is nothing to be concerned about.

"Even if we don't get much showers, the little we do get eases demand," she said. "Water consumption is always related to temperature — lawn watering is the number one use for water in the summer — when it rains slightly, people don't water their lawns.

"We always encourage folks to use water wisely, and with temperatures still moderate, this is the time to be aware."

As for this holiday weekend's forecast, those who like it cool may find a little relief: Showers are in the forecast.

Figures.

Suesan Whitney Henderson: 206-464-2296 or swhenderson@seattletimes.com