Jolly Mountain Fire | |
---|---|
![]() Fire as seen from government firefighting aircraft on August 30, 2017 | |
Date(s) | Ignited: August 11, 2017 State of Emergency: August 29 Evacuations: August 31, 2017 EOC activation: September 2, 2017 100% contained: November 2, 2017 |
Location |
Wenatchee National Forest Kittitas County, Washington |
Coordinates | 47°20′N 121°02′W / 47.34°N 121.04°W |
Statistics | |
Burned area | 36,808 acres (14,896 ha) as of November 2, 2017 [1] |
Land use | Forest and residential |
Impacts | |
Damage | Unknown |
Ignition | |
Cause | Lightning |
Map | |
Season | |
←
2016
2018 → |
The Jolly Mountain fire was a wildfire in Wenatchee National Forest, Kittitas County, Washington, that began with lightning strikes August 11, 2017 and burned for over three months. [2] [1] Fires burned in the upper reaches of the Teanaway River a few miles east of Cle Elum Lake. [3]
By August 18, the fire was over 500 acres and the state's Teanaway Community Forest was closed in response. [4]
On August 24, the fire stood at over 1,700 acres and public meetings were held to discuss area closures and possible future evacuations. [5] By August 28, the fire was over 5,000 acres, [6] and smoke was noticeable in the Seattle metropolitan area about 100 kilometers away. [7] [8]
On August 29, Kittitas County declared a state of emergency, [9] and pyrocumulus clouds were visible on satellite images of the Cascades. [10] On the same day, the Washington Military Department's Emergency Operation Center at Camp Murray was activated in response to Jolly Mountain. [11] Smoke continued to affect visibility and air quality in Seattle on August 30, and air quality in Kittitas County was officially termed "unhealthy". [12] [13] The fire grew rapidly August 30–31 due to winds. [6]
By August 31, the fire stood at over 9,000 acres and was zero percent contained; local government near the city of Cle Elum began ordering evacuations of over 150 homes. [14] [15] On September 2, at over 14,500 acres, the fire was deemed to be too big for local response and authority was transferred to the Washington State Patrol's Fire Protection Bureau[ broken anchor]. [16] Due to the Jolly Mountain event and the slightly larger Norse Peak fire, air quality in Wenatchee and Yakima was "very unhealthy" and outdoor sports events canceled. [17] [18]
On September 4, the fire stood at just under 21,000 acres, [19] the city of Ellensburg declared a state of emergency, Cle Elum's air quality was deemed "dangerous" by the county, [20] and contingency plans to evacuate Cle Elum by turning State Route 10 into a one-way avenue were discussed. [21] On September 5, skies were darkened and ash fell on Seattle "like snow". [22]
By September 20, the beginnings of the rainy fall season began to abate the fires and a few days went by with zero new acres burned and greatly improved air quality except in the immediate Cle Elum area. [23]
On September 29, with the fire 50% contained, all evacuation orders were canceled. [24] [25]
By November 2, the fire was 100% contained but still burning. [2] [1]
The fire affected an endangered species, the northern spotted owl. [26]
Jolly Mountain Fire | |
---|---|
![]() Fire as seen from government firefighting aircraft on August 30, 2017 | |
Date(s) | Ignited: August 11, 2017 State of Emergency: August 29 Evacuations: August 31, 2017 EOC activation: September 2, 2017 100% contained: November 2, 2017 |
Location |
Wenatchee National Forest Kittitas County, Washington |
Coordinates | 47°20′N 121°02′W / 47.34°N 121.04°W |
Statistics | |
Burned area | 36,808 acres (14,896 ha) as of November 2, 2017 [1] |
Land use | Forest and residential |
Impacts | |
Damage | Unknown |
Ignition | |
Cause | Lightning |
Map | |
Season | |
←
2016
2018 → |
The Jolly Mountain fire was a wildfire in Wenatchee National Forest, Kittitas County, Washington, that began with lightning strikes August 11, 2017 and burned for over three months. [2] [1] Fires burned in the upper reaches of the Teanaway River a few miles east of Cle Elum Lake. [3]
By August 18, the fire was over 500 acres and the state's Teanaway Community Forest was closed in response. [4]
On August 24, the fire stood at over 1,700 acres and public meetings were held to discuss area closures and possible future evacuations. [5] By August 28, the fire was over 5,000 acres, [6] and smoke was noticeable in the Seattle metropolitan area about 100 kilometers away. [7] [8]
On August 29, Kittitas County declared a state of emergency, [9] and pyrocumulus clouds were visible on satellite images of the Cascades. [10] On the same day, the Washington Military Department's Emergency Operation Center at Camp Murray was activated in response to Jolly Mountain. [11] Smoke continued to affect visibility and air quality in Seattle on August 30, and air quality in Kittitas County was officially termed "unhealthy". [12] [13] The fire grew rapidly August 30–31 due to winds. [6]
By August 31, the fire stood at over 9,000 acres and was zero percent contained; local government near the city of Cle Elum began ordering evacuations of over 150 homes. [14] [15] On September 2, at over 14,500 acres, the fire was deemed to be too big for local response and authority was transferred to the Washington State Patrol's Fire Protection Bureau[ broken anchor]. [16] Due to the Jolly Mountain event and the slightly larger Norse Peak fire, air quality in Wenatchee and Yakima was "very unhealthy" and outdoor sports events canceled. [17] [18]
On September 4, the fire stood at just under 21,000 acres, [19] the city of Ellensburg declared a state of emergency, Cle Elum's air quality was deemed "dangerous" by the county, [20] and contingency plans to evacuate Cle Elum by turning State Route 10 into a one-way avenue were discussed. [21] On September 5, skies were darkened and ash fell on Seattle "like snow". [22]
By September 20, the beginnings of the rainy fall season began to abate the fires and a few days went by with zero new acres burned and greatly improved air quality except in the immediate Cle Elum area. [23]
On September 29, with the fire 50% contained, all evacuation orders were canceled. [24] [25]
By November 2, the fire was 100% contained but still burning. [2] [1]
The fire affected an endangered species, the northern spotted owl. [26]