VIDEO: Less than 24 hours after the red flag warning for parts of Snohomish County was lifted, a wildfire task force leader with Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue says the area is still vulnerable to brush fires. While many residents are aware of the seasonal dangers, Lt. Brian Kees says the department sees a spike every summer. “We just have to be diligent and smartโฆ be cognizant of neighbors,” he said. “We have all this brush around here with homes back here. It creates a dynamic environment when we have all this wooded area and a small little fire starts. We have this critical fire weather at this time and the wind kicks up and starts pushing that.”
As temperatures skyrocketed past 90 degrees on Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for “hot, dry and unstable conditions” in the foothills of the Cascades, including Snohomish County. The warning expired late Wednesday night. “We would highly advise people, just don’t burn outside. Right now isn’t the time to be doing it, that includes cooking fires. If you don’t have to burn, please don’t. One little spark creates a monster that affects a lot of people,” Kees said. While the red flag warning has expired, unincorporated Snohomish County remains under a stage 1 residential burn ban, as issued by the fire marshal. It’s put into effect each year between July 1 to Aug. 31.
