Executive Summary

Washington state is a scenic wonderland that features a multitude of natural environments.  It touches the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean and reaches inland to the mountains.  It’s location on the continent provided one of the state’s most devastating fires to date.  This project takes a look at some of the key conditions that caused millions of dollars in damages, burned over a million acres, and took the lives of three firefighters.  The conditions examined range from the climate leading up to the fires, invasive plants and insects, and how fires are fought and prevented.  This project will also look at the how the budget works when it comes to paying for these fires.

See full report here.

Dry brushes that have the potential to add to fire hazards.

After burns, some materials have to cut away

Areas affected by the fire covered in snow

A specie of invasive plants that can add to the volatility of a fire.

This is an example of the potential damage a variety of bark beetles can do.

An area near Lake Chelan a few months after the fires.