Could the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 happen again? | Bühner

Thursday, June 6 marked the date of the tragic Great Seattle Fire of 1889 which burned 25 blocks of the downtown Seattle waterfront 135 years ago.

With the weather forecast to be hotter and drier than average, could this happen again?

From Felix Banel: Fires devastated Seattle, Ellensburg and Spokane in 1889

There were no precise weather records on June 6, 1889. But we do know that the spring was hot and dry. On the day of the Great Seattle Fire, an inadvertently spilled pot of glue in a waterfront woodworking shop sparked the historic blaze. High winds blowing from Elliott Bay during that hot afternoon helped fan the flames and easily spread the fire from one wooden structure and building to another. Those interested can tour what remains of Bill Speidel's underground tour.

Technology may have improved, but these fires can still happen

So far, this century has seen more hot, dry springs and summers, including in 2023. Such dry conditions can increase the threat of fast-spreading fires, particularly in neighborhoods where houses are quite close to each other.

Fortunately, newer structures feature more fire-resistant building materials, and a state-of-the-art firefighting community can help stop fires from spreading so quickly. Yet these types of fires can still occur thanks to hot, dry and windy weather conditions. Already this spring, consider the wildfires that have broken out in the interior of western Canada, and currently in California, during an early season heat wave, with temperatures reaching triple digits.

Despite Western Washington's reputation for being a humid place, recent summers have actually started earlier and ended later, resulting in drier conditions. These environments made it easier for wildfires to start. Last year, although it is difficult to understand, western Washington had more wildfire outbreaks than the eastern part of the state, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Washington State.

MyNorthwest Weather: Will a “Heat Dome” be part of next summer in Seattle?

Looking ahead, the latest seasonal weather forecast for Western Washington heading into September shows a good chance of warmer than average temperatures and a high chance of precipitation that will leave the region more dry than normal. Much of the state is already in an abnormally dry or moderate drought state and summer begins on the June 21 solstice. Parts of Western Washington are seeing between two and four inches of rain so far behind the average for the year.

Weather can impact the size and impact of fires

With drier, warmer weather, grasses will soon dry out, paving the way for grass fires. It is important to keep burning materials inside vehicles and tighten tow chains to avoid sparks from trailing lines to prevent roadside fires from starting.

Neighborhoods can also be at risk for wildfires when hot, dry, and windy conditions occur, such as what happened on the Seattle waterfront in 1889. Remember the Oakland Hills Fire in October 1991, when a wind-driven fire burned nearly 3,500 homes and apartments, killing 25 people and injuring 150 people.

More from Ted Buehner: What led to drought in Washington in the form of wildfires and rainbows on the horizon

Another example is a number of wind-driven wildfires in western Oregon over the 2020 Labor Day weekend near Medford, east of Eugene/ Springfield, east of Salem and in the Columbia River Gorge, burning thousands of homes. Around the same time, the Sumner Grade Fire occurred on a windy day, burning four homes and temporarily displacing hundreds of residents.

Last year in Spokane County, winds blew the Oregon Road and Gray wildfires through several neighborhoods, gutting several hundred homes and killing two people. Protecting neighborhoods from wildfires is essential.

Wildfires in Washington in 2023: Gray Fires in Oregon City Kill 2, Lose Structures

Now is the time to prepare and build defensible wildfire space around homes and businesses. Consider this effort as part of spring yard cleaning. Visit firewise.org for tips like moving firewood away from a home, cutting tree branches from the ground to overhead, and clearing roofs and gutters of debris. Help Smokey Bear and consider his motto – Only you can prevent wildfires – whether in urban or rural areas.

Ted Buehner is KIRO Newsradio's meteorologist. You can read more of Ted's stories here and follow him X, formerly known as Twitter.