FIRE SEASON: More fires this year than last
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Whether it's Terrace Heights, West Valley, Toppenish or Sunnyside, there is no area that could be branded "wildfire free."
Thursday morning, residents in Terrace Heights woke up to the crackling sound of fire and the smell of smoke.
"I came out and saw how close it was and that was scary," said Debbie Leonard of Terrace Heights.
"If this lot catches on fire and jumps the driveway there you don’t know where it’s going to go," said Gary Sali of Terrace Heights.
"It was shocking even though this is visible cheat grass area, I have never seen. I've been here two years and never seen a fire so it was alarming, " said Leonard.
This was the third fire in the last week in Terrace Heights alone. We wanted to know how the number of wildfires this year compared to last year.
In the city of Yakima, there were three wildfires in June and 20 in July of 2011. This year, six in June and ten in the first two weeks of July. So, not so much of a change here. But all across the board, July seems to be a hot month for wildfires.
However, in places like Selah, the number of wildfires this year is ahead of last year. In just the last two weeks, there have been 16 brush fires, which is more than the entire month of July in 2011. And the numbers show a similar trend for both West Valley and Toppenish.
Selah Fire Chief Jerry Davis says the weather could actually be behind the recent wildfires that we're seeing here in Yakima and that's because the rain actually increases the amount of vegetation you see around me. But, the wind and heat actually dry it out, creating lots of fuel that's easy to burn.
"Luckily for us it was on the other side of the rose. And it stayed there," Leonard said.
Thursday morning, residents in Terrace Heights woke up to the crackling sound of fire and the smell of smoke.
"I came out and saw how close it was and that was scary," said Debbie Leonard of Terrace Heights.
"If this lot catches on fire and jumps the driveway there you don’t know where it’s going to go," said Gary Sali of Terrace Heights.
"It was shocking even though this is visible cheat grass area, I have never seen. I've been here two years and never seen a fire so it was alarming, " said Leonard.
This was the third fire in the last week in Terrace Heights alone. We wanted to know how the number of wildfires this year compared to last year.
In the city of Yakima, there were three wildfires in June and 20 in July of 2011. This year, six in June and ten in the first two weeks of July. So, not so much of a change here. But all across the board, July seems to be a hot month for wildfires.
However, in places like Selah, the number of wildfires this year is ahead of last year. In just the last two weeks, there have been 16 brush fires, which is more than the entire month of July in 2011. And the numbers show a similar trend for both West Valley and Toppenish.
Selah Fire Chief Jerry Davis says the weather could actually be behind the recent wildfires that we're seeing here in Yakima and that's because the rain actually increases the amount of vegetation you see around me. But, the wind and heat actually dry it out, creating lots of fuel that's easy to burn.
"Luckily for us it was on the other side of the rose. And it stayed there," Leonard said.
