Wildfires this summer in Washington have burned about 567 square miles. Last year wildfires burned about 156 square miles in the state.
State Forester Aaron Everett said this year’s scorched acreage is about six times the five-year average of 95 square miles. He also said the state has spent more than $100 million on wildfires through August. The Department of Natural Resources’ fire suppression budget is about $25 million.
Everett gave his account of the fire season at a meeting in early September on the results of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s program to improve government efficiency.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Flood Insurance Gap Will Squeeze Local Governments and Homeowners, Moody’s Says 
Big I: Independent Agencies’ Market Share Up Slightly in 2025 
AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Missouri’s Columbia 
Wanted: War-Zone Divers to Scrape Barnacles From Ships in Persian Gulf From This Issue
