As Commissioner of Public Lands, I manage
@WaDNR
to safeguard environment, values & support local economies through sustainable management of natural resources.
I am issuing a statewide burn ban on all forest lands under DNR fire protection ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. This includes campfires, outdoor burning and the use of charcoal briquettes - effective July 2 through Sept. 30. Our state is bone dry, and we must protect it.
If you noticed generally cleaner air and bluer skies this summer, it's because my team at
@waDNR
kept 95% of our fires at 10 acres or less.
That's not luck. That's leadership - from everyone on the fire line.
Today alone, almost 300,000 acres in Washington have burned. Thousands of homes are without power. Many families have had to evacuate their homes and many homes have been lost. We're still seeing new fire starts in every corner of the state.
#WaWILDFIRE
🎥credit: Clarence Jones
How it started --> How it's going
More than 60,000 square feet of invasive Himalayan Blackberry have been replaced with 270 native trees in Burien's Hilltop Park thanks to hardworking students and program staff.
Hearing news that a 1-year-old child passed away in the Cold Springs fire and six lives were lost in Oregon and California is devastating. We can't accept this as an unfortunate reality of living in the West. We have to fight for the resources we need to prevent these tragedies.
With
@taylorswift13
coming to my Seattle stomping grounds I have to ask: What could the Eras tour be about besides shining a spotlight on the planet’s geologic eras? I see what you’re doing, Tay, and I’m proud to name you an Honorary Geologist for the State of Washington.
In recognition for her efforts to highlight the geologic Eras that formed the planet and for shaping our world as much as the tectonic plates beneath us, we have selected
@taylorswift13
as an Honorary Geologist for the state of Washington.
Today, we are returning our waters to wild fish and natural habitat. Today, we are freeing Puget Sound of enclosed cages.
This is a critical step to support our waters, fishermen, tribes, and the native salmon that we are so ferociously fighting to save.
By changing these names, we ensure that Washington’s geography will continue to reflect the history of Native American women on our landscape, but with the dignity and respect these women deserve.
#McEwanFire
burning near Shelton around E McEwan Prairie Rd. estimated at 200+ acres resources on scene and enroute. Level 2 (be ready to go) and 3 (go now!) evacuations in place. More info as it becomes available.
My thoughts are with everyone in Medical Lake, Elk, Winona and the many other communities across Washington impacted by today’s wildfires.
We’ve got a long night ahead of us, but please keep yourselves safe, and we’ll focus on bringing these fast-moving fires under control.
The record-breaking temperatures we are seeing this week have left our state bone dry. After discussions with staff here at DNR, we have decided to implement a statewide burn ban on all DNR lands, now through Sept. 30, 2024.
On this Women and Girls in Science Day, I am proud to lead an agency where smart, driven, talented female scientists work to solve the biggest problems facing our state, our country, and our world.
Here's to more women in STEM!
@waDNR
There are no pockets of clean air in our state and the
#WestCoast
has the worst
#airquality
in the world. Too often, we wait for problems to become extreme before we act. We have to come together and take preventative action against our
#wildfire
and
#foresthealth
crisis.
WILDFIRE UPDATE THREAD
Weather conditions have moderated and rain is expected later in the week.
A marine layer has pushed westward into the Puget Lowlands and has halted the critical burn period from this weekend. Calm winds & significant precipitation will limit fire spread.
That moment you realize you ran out of deodorant so you go into your teen boys’ medicine cabinet, and find Denali Spruce by Old Spice and ask yourself if anyone will notice and remember that you are the Commissioner of Public Lands and this is what you should smell like.
Effective today, I am lifting the statewide burn ban on all forest lands under DNR fire protection. With autumn rains and shifting weather conditions, I am optimistic that we've turned a corner.
Today marks a victory for Tribes across the nation! After a brutal history of colonization, attempted genocide, and cultural erasure, we celebrate that the Court upheld Tribal sovereignty and self-government. These are the first steps in a long road to healing and understanding.
While Washington is not directly in the path of Monday's Total Solar Eclipse, there is a high probability that Washingtonians will be able to look up and have 100% coverage of the sun.
⚠️High
#WaWILDFIRE
risk in Western Washington. ⚠️ People cause more than 90% of wildfires, so we ALL need to do our part to prevent them.
I'm doing whatever it takes to share the message, even if that means dancing it out with
@smokey_bear
.
#OnlyYou
My team at
@waDNR
and our partners have sent heavy air tankers, engines, hand crews, and incident management teams to assist our friends in Alberta as they fight devastating fires.
I am glad to support our neighbors to the north, and I know they'll have our backs if needed.
While many are still under investigation, 90% of Washington's wildfires are human-caused — they could have been prevented. Do everything you can to prevent new fires from starting. Avoid activities that could cause sparks. Our firefighters need us to do our part.
#WaWILDFIRE
Last week, two members of the DNR dive team rescued two teenagers from the frigid waters of Puget Sound after the teens' sailing vessel overturned.
Thank you to Forrest Streeter and Jeremy Hiles for their outstanding situational awareness and quick response!
Thank you to the fire crews battling the
#EvansCanyonFire
near Naches. Please, help us by obeying evacuations, closure orders, and doing everything you can to prevent new fires this weekend. This is not only for your safety but for the safety of our firefighters.
#WaWILDFIRE
Sending firefighters south to help battle the
#CaliforniaWildfires
. I’m so proud of the dedication of our
@waDNR_fire
fire crews for sacrificing their time to help our neighbors in need.
On National
#WildlandFirefighterDay
, let's pause to appreciate the hundreds of the responders who answer the call to keep our lands and communities safe.
To the firefighters and support personnel who work long hours day in and day out: Thank you for your service & dedication.
The teams at
@WaDNR
are always working to make sure our wildlife have healthy habitat. While this one was an unexpected challenge, we wanted to make sure that our new zebra friend felt comfortable for however long their stay in Washington ends up being.
I mobilized 106 firefighters and 20 engines from
@WaDNR
to help contain the fatal wildfires burning in California.
With our wildfire year all but over, I’m grateful our firefighters are willing to once again jump to help our neighbors in need.
These maps tell a clear story: Neighborhoods with inadequate tree cover suffer from higher surface temperatures during heat events. We are thrilled to partner with
@AmericanForests
to enhance our urban forests and make tree canopy coverage more equitable.
I'm excited to announce that on May 5 our public lands are re-opening for day-use recreation. Reconnecting people with nature is the first step on the journey back to normalcy. As we return to the outdoors, please
#RecreateResponsibly
. Learn more at .
Today, I announce an order prohibiting commercial finfish net pen aquaculture, which will free Washington’s state-owned aquatic lands from enclosed cages.
This is an important and encouraging message from
@GovInslee
. The curve is flattening, but the fight isn't over. If we can continue to practice social distancing a little while longer, we can save lives. 💪
#StayHomeStayHealthy
#WeGotThisWA
Devastating news. We can't sit by and expect things to get better for our orcas.
@waDNR
's tree-to-sea salmon plan - removing derelict structures and culverts, restoring kelp & eelgrass, protecting streams from pollutants & foresting our cities - means more salmon for our whales.
WILDFIRE UPDATES: Due to an east wind event, we are seeing growth in fires already on the landscape, including:
-
#LochKatrineFire
(currently 13 miles northeast of North Bend)
-
#8RoadFire
(4 miles north of Elbe)
-
#NakiaCreekFire
(9 miles north of Washougal)
📷:
@kevinfreitas
What an incredible video from our geoduck harvest compliance team off the coast of Vashon Island 🐳! This is another wonderful reminder of how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful state and why it's so important for us to protect it.
I am announcing the closure of all DNR-managed lands in eastern Washington effective midnight on Friday, July 23, due to extreme fire danger and ongoing drought east of the Cascades. Visit for updates on recreation openings and closures.
It's OFFICIAL!
@GovInslee
signed our wildfire funding bill into law. We now begin the work toward a future with safer communities and fewer devastating wildfires. We called on Washington to fight back against this crisis, and our state rose to the occasion.
This is a great day for Washington’s waterfronts, as
@GovInslee
signed into law SB5433 which lets my agency get to work tackling the problem of derelict aquatic structures that plague so many of our communities.
As of this morning, we have 9 large fires. We had 58 new wildfire starts in the last 24 hours. Initial attack with our aircraft proved extremely successful. However, hurricane-level gusts and smoke-filled skies was a bad combination for initial attack in the air in many areas.
Our thoughts and prayers aren't enough. I've fought for more resources for our firefighters and for prevention, but we're still tragically short. Too often, these situations aren't taken seriously until it's too late — until an entire town burns to the ground.
#WaWILDFIRE
My thoughts are with the people in Turkey and Syria who were affected by the devastating earthquakes.
It's a solemn reminder that Washington faces similar dangers, so we must be ready.
@USGS_ShakeAlert
's early earthquake warning system is available on all mobile phones in WA.
Our crews are tired and they're stretched thin. Still, they show up for us. We need to match their commitment by investing in more firefighters and resources as well as proactive measures that will ramp up our efforts to improve forest health.
@AC360
@CNN
#WaWILDFIRE
Following an at-home test today, I have received a positive result for COVID-19 and am quarantining consistent with CDC guidance. I am thankful to be fully vaccinated, boosted and experiencing only mild symptoms. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly.
@waDNR
The good news is our firefighters are trained up and, thanks to new funding, we have more resources than ever. We are well-positioned and ready.
Just don’t be the spark that diverts these firefighting resources from combating other potential wildfires on the landscape!
Our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and family are putting their lives on the line everyday for us.
Today we remember those who have sacrificed their lives to protect our communities and we recognize those who everyday continue to protect our communities.
We're pleased to report there were NO new significant fire starts over Labor Day weekend. Thanks to every single one of you for doing your part to prevent wildfires.
My thoughts are with the family and crew of Colfax Fire Chief Jim Krouse, who passed away Saturday after collapsing while responding to his fourth wildfire call of the day.
Thank you for your 52 years of service to the Colfax community. Rest in peace, Chief Krouse.
My heart is with all of these families. We're doing everything we can to get these fires contained. I want to thank our firefighters, crews, and partners for their tireless work. I cannot imagine the horror we'd be experiencing if you weren't on the frontlines.
#WaWILDFIRE
Thank you
@DangeRussWilson
for a decade of leadership on the field, service off the field, and a winning culture that makes us proud to be the
#12thMan
.
Today, on Billy Frank Jr. Day, we honor the legacy of one of Washington's most powerful advocates. I cannot imagine where we would be without his unrelenting passion on behalf of our iconic salmon, waterways, and the culture of the First Peoples.
Nine years ago today, three U.S. Forest Service firefighters lost their lives battling the Twisp River Fire in Okanogan County. This fire scorched over 11,000 acres of land in less than a week, during the 2015 wildfire season that saw over a million acres of our state burn.
Meeting Daniel Lyon was one of the most moving days of my life. After being injured in the tragic 2015 Twisp River Fire, he now advocates for better training.
We owe our wildland firefighters the resources they need to be safe. Thank you, Daniel, for your service to Washington.
My plea continues because this is far from over. We're expecting east winds and extreme fire danger over the next two days. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for most of Washington.
#WaWILDFIRE
Too often, cold weather comes and people forget what happened during wildfire season. My job is to make sure no one forgets that our No. 1 priority is to protect our communities and protect our firefighters.
@Q13FOX
#WaWILDFIRE
It's official! Our bill to protect and restore 10,000 acres of kelp forests and eelgrass meadows by 2040 has been signed into law.
We are one step closer to better protection for the marine life that depends on these habitats.
#waleg
We could focus only on putting out fires.
Or we could make our forests more resilient, we could empower our communities, and we could learn from Indigenous elders — who know how fire can be applied on the landscape.
Great discussion from these leaders in landscape resilience.
We've teamed up with Seattle Mariners for a special night focused on wildfire prevention.
When you buy tickets to the Aug. 29 ballgame, $5 of the ticket price will go to help injured wildland firefighters and their families.
Get yours at
Former King 5 reporter
@AlisonMorrowTV
is joining our ranks! She's heading to our Ellensburg office to help tell stories and build partnerships on the eastside. We're excited to have her as we continue to fight
#wildfire
, create healthy forests, and support local economies.
Billy Frank Jr. challenged us to be better stewards of our planet and to leave a better world for the next generation. Today, we honor his legacy. Let us always remember his unrelenting passion on behalf of our iconic salmon, waterways, and the culture of the First Peoples.
I won't soon forget the devastation I witnessed in
#Malden
today. Burned down homes, smoldering ashes, and burn scars on buildings — it was shocking. Through it all, I was amazed by the strength and resiliency of Mayor Christine Ferrell and the community.
#WaWILDFIRE
We live in a big, beautiful, rugged state, and because of the 1,500 hard-working people here at DNR we get to breathe clean air, drink clean water & play on safe trails.
On Labor Day, I'm thankful for their commitment to our state & for organized labor's commitment to them.
Remembering the three firefighters who lost their lives on the Twisp River Fire six years ago today. Even now, firefighting crews are deployed across the state battling raging wildfires. My heart is with them & with the families of the brave men who died trying to keep us safe.
The latest IPCC report confirms that climate change is intensifying rapidly.
The best time to act was 20 years ago. The second best time to act is now. If we don’t, Washington's wildfires will get worse, marine life will continue to die, and heatwaves will become more frequent.
Derek has been a tireless advocate for Washington's communities and natural resources. He's served with dignity and compassion during some of our country's most trying times.
Thank you for your tireless service to our people and places, and may the force be with you, always.
It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve as the Representative for Washington's 6th District in Congress. I’m proud of what we have accomplished – but it is time for the next chapter. I will not seek re-election in 2024.
Read my full statement here:
We are taking unprecedented action to protect and restore kelp forests and eelgrass meadows.
As of today, 2,300 acres of state tidelands have been put off-limits to development for the next 50 years.
Introducing Keep Washington Evergreen: A plan to conserve 1 million acres of forests and reforest an additional 1 million acres by 2040.
It is not enough that we prevent our forests from burning down. We need to prevent our forests from converting to concrete.
I am aware of an incident involving a fixed-wing aircraft at the Horns Mountain Fire near Northport. Our fire staff are working with our partners to gather more information, but I want people to know the pilot is ok and is receiving medical attention for any possible injuries.
We've had 1,458 fires so far this year. Even though our state has seen truly heartbreaking moments and wildfire season isn't over, there have been so many heart-lifting moments because of the brave men and women on the front lines. Thank you, firefighters.
The town of Malden was devastated by wildfires that swept through our state on Labor Day. Reports indicate 80 percent of the homes in the community were burned down. I will be visiting Malden tomorrow to meet with wildfire commanders and local officials.
This is HUGE!
I am incredibly happy to protect and preserve Dabob Bay's special landscape to ensure that future generations get to enjoy its beauty and ecological importance.
Daniel Lyon is a firefighter who was severely injured in the tragic 2015 Twisp River Fire. Today, Daniel visited with me to advocate for more resources. I appreciate his insights and support of
@WaDNR
's $55M legislative ask. Thank you, Daniel, for your service.
Today, I joined
@GovInslee
to announce that statewide recreation will reopen to the public starting May 5. With the health of Washingtonians in mind, DNR rec sites will reopen on a rolling basis. Camping will remain closed until further notice. Learn more:
Smoke emitted from wildfire is a difficult burden for many Washingtonians, especially those with respiratory issues. My heart goes out to those close to the fire and those who have been impacted by the smoky air.
We can't forget what happened in
#Malden
and across our state. It shouldn't take a tragedy to open our eyes to the reality that wildfires are an annual event, not an anomaly. We need more resources at the state level to prepare and defend our communities.
#WaWILDFIRE
Smoky skies are doing more than irritating our lungs and eyes; they’ve also created visibility issues for our pilots. The result: No air assets on
#WaWILDFIRE
. Especially while our crew is grounded, it’s critical that we are doing everything we can to prevent new fires.
Four years ago today, the
#SR530
landslide forever changed the Oso community. Please take time today to remember those we lost and reflect on the courage of the first responders who defined the spirit of
#OsoStrong
.
The past few days have been incredibly tough, but to see our communities take time to show their gratitude through all of this chaos is heartening. Thank you to the men and women who are on the front lines of this crisis, doing everything they can to protect us.
#WaWILDFIRE
As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, I spoke to
@CNN
about how our firefighters are the very embodiment of American values: service and dedication, fighting every day to keep strangers safe.
Let's have their backs. Let's celebrate our country by keeping them safe.
We're all welcoming this sunny, warm weather, but please keep our firefighters in mind as you recreate. An unseasonably dry May + warm and breezy conditions entering June leaves our landscape at greater risk for wildfire. Please do your part to be one less spark!
With weather conditions remaining hot, dry & breezy across Washington, it’s important for citizens to remember best practices for prevention and recreating safely. Don’t be the spark that diverts firefighting resources from combating other potential wildfires on the landscape.
This Wednesday, I will be laying out the largest wildfire fighting request in Washington state's history. Our state needs to make forward-thinking investments if we are to create healthy forests and protect our communities and resources from
#WaWILDFIRE
.
Our driest spring in a century. A record heat wave. Now wildfires are burning more than 300,000 acres across the West. Climate change is here, and the time to act is now.
These conditions could create a particularly bad fire season, and we are starting to see what that looks like.
- More than 900 fires statewide
- 140,000 acres burned
- 681 DNR fires (more than double the 10-year avg.)
And it’s not even August.
We’ve declared drought emergency for nearly all of WA. We had the second driest spring since 1895, followed by a record-breaking heatwave. The extreme heat purged much of the snowpack, worsening drought conditions.
I've ordered for outdoor burning to be banned on DNR-protected lands, effective Aug. 2.
When the risk of
#WaWILDFIRE
is this high – we must take significant steps to protect communities and firefighters. More info ➡️