Washington is the epicenter
Earlier this year, I joined members of Washington and Oregon's congressional delegations in urging the Trump administration to prepare for what we feared could be a dangerous wildfire season.
With a historic low snowpack, worsening drought conditions, and concerns about federal staffing and funding cuts, we warned that the Pacific Northwest faced a heightened risk of severe wildfires. We called on the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and NOAA to coordinate with state, local, and Tribal partners to:
- ensure adequate firefighting resources were available,
- continue hazardous fuels reduction work, and
- use every available tool to protect our communities before fire season intensifies.
Now, the Pacific Northwest is experiencing severe and fast-moving wildfires.
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate, and hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and requested federal assistance, and these fast-moving fires in Washington have become the nation's top wildfire suppression priority. Firefighters from across the U.S. and abroad, along with the National Guard, are working to suppress the blazes and assist with evacuations.
I joined Washington's Congressional delegation in urging expedited federal disaster assistance to bolster firefighting efforts, support emergency response operations, and provide relief for displaced families and affected communities.
In the meantime, it is important that you have a plan in the event your family is impacted by a wildfire.
Using the resources above, you can learn more about wildfire preparedness, including: how to make your home more wildfire-resilient, what should be in your go-bag alongside medications and important documents, and what the different warning tiers mean. For now, stay informed about the ongoing wildfires and air quality.
More soon,
Rick
