Lightning sparks wildfires in Okanogan County

BRIDGEPORT – Lightning strikes sparked wildfires in several parts of Okanogan County on Tuesday, June 27, as ground crews and aircraft mobilized to quickly suppress the flames.

One blaze that ignited near the junction of Jack Wells Road and Delfield Road southeast of Bridgeport on the Colville Reservation was contained by air drops, a dozer fire line, and ground personnel, burned about 100 acres before it was brought under control, according to a firefighter on the scene.

Last month Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz issued a media release that cautioned residents about fire conditions ahead.

“We’re in for a long, active fire season this year that will drain resources and makes the potential of large fires impacting communities worrisome,” Franz said. “I have a challenge for Washingtonians – please help fire crews here and in Canada by not adding human-caused fires to the equation.”

Franz asked the public to follow “best practices and recreate responsibly,” by “knowing the restrictions regarding campfires in their area, never leaving a flame unattended, and always being careful with fireworks and other incendiary devices.”

The DNR projects above-average temperatures this month and in August, the typical peak months for wildfire in the state. A lack of precipitation through May has led to active fire behavior on both sides of the Cascades, not just here but also in Canada where smoke from its fires are blanketing the eastern U.S.

As last week’s incidents demonstrate, lightning is no respecter of best practices. Several online websites like the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s noaa.gov explain the different types of lightning – positive, negative, and bipolar. While positive strikes comprise about five percent of all strikes, they are believed to be the greatest source of wildfires.