Wildfires are burning across our region and smoke is causing extremely poor air quality. Our hearts are heavy with concern for those affected by fires in Washington State and beyond. We ask our community to practice good decision-making skills, respect public land closures, and consider staying home. Here is a list of current closures and guidance from land managers (Note: this information was current as of September 11, 2020. Please check current conditions on land manager websites before venturing out.):
- All DNR lands east of the Cascades are closed to recreation.
- The regional U.S. Forest Service office is asking the public to reconsider forest visits, due to the extreme fire danger and limited firefighting resources.
- Part of the Suiattle River Road and surrounding trails are closed due to a fire in the Downey Creek Area.
- Trails in the Lena Lake area and the Brothers on the Olympic Peninsula are closed due to a fire.
- Parts of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are closed due to a fire near Mount Adams.
- Areas are closed near two fires burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: one at Chikamin Ridge near Leavenworth and one near Little Naches River.
- All Seattle parks, beaches, boat ramps, and playfields will be closed through Sunday Sept 13.
Land managers are asking folks to stay home this weekend, for your safety and the safety of firefighters and emergency workers. If you do go out, be aware that conditions can change quickly. Research the area you're planning to go for closures, check local fire activity, and be prepared to leave quickly.
In addition to these closures, much of the state is under a burn ban, including fire pits in developed campgrounds, charcoal barbecues, and even personal camp stoves. Avoid parking vehicles in dry, grassy areas and don’t toss lit cigarettes or other burning materials.
Even if you're planning to stay close to home, wildfire smoke is drastically affecting air quality in our state. For information about air quality and fire activity, please see:
- Washington Smoke Blog
- Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
- Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Fire Map
- InciWeb Fire Map
Please stay safe and #recreateresponsibly!