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A battle is unfolding in Europe over the future of wolves

Europe recently downgraded the protected status of wolves, sparking concern among conservationists who warn this may undo decades of progress and lead to the species becoming threatened again.

Root materials that have been decaying in forest soils for some decades may combust during forest fires and either create what we call soil pipes--large open networks in the soil--or at least connect such networks to the soil surface. ROBERT HEINSE / UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

The Fire May Be Out Above Ground But Not Below

Did you know that after a forest fire tree roots can continue to burn? Usually dirt is used to snuff out a fire. So how is it possible for tree roots to…

An orange fire, blackened grass and white smoke are in the right hand corner of the picture. On the left side of the picture, four people wearing blue helmets, yellow long sleeve shirts and green pants cary black backpacks and dig a line through the brown grass and green sagebrush. The four people are covered in black soot.

Drought conditions lead to several new, large fires in Washington, Oregon

As new, large fires have started in Oregon and Washington this past week, lightning has started fewer fires this season, according to the Washington…

Fire crews navigate terrain while working at the Nakia Fire on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 19, 2022. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)

October showers bring more containment to west side wildfires

We’re nearing the end of October, but crews across Washington state continue to battle fires.

Smoke plume from Delabarre Fire on Sept. 16, 2023. (Courtesy: InciWeb)

Seven fires burning in Olympic National Park; one evidence of what could come with climate change

Visible from the smoke they’re emitting, seven fires are burning within the wilderness of Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula. Lightning strikes ignited the fires Aug. 28 and all were burning relatively small until this past weekend, when the Delabarre fire took advantage of hot, dry conditions and took off like a bandit, growing to over 3,500 acres.

Nakia Creek fire evacuation zones as of October 17, 2022. Image courtesy of the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.

Nakia Creek fire grows to just under 1800 acres

Firefighting crews continue to build containment lines on the Nakia Creek fire, burning in southwestern Washington in Clark County.More than 28,000 homes in Clark County are still under Level Three, or go now, evacuation orders, which haven’t changed since Monday.

Wildfire evacuation notices that non-native English speakers did not comprehend prompted a new state law in Washington. CREDIT: THAN TUASON

How Do You Say 'Evacuate' In Tagalog? In A Disaster, English Isn't Always Enough

Nearly 20 percent of people in Washington and 15 percent in Oregon speak a language other than English at home. Emergency managers from around the West are grappling with how to reach people in foreign languages in the midst of a disaster, at a time when a new Washington state law is seeking to raise the bar.

File photo. Washington's Department of FIsh and Wildlife plans to set controlled fires on on more than 1,000 acres in Okanogan, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties. CREDIT: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Washington Department Of Fish And Wildlife Stepping Up Controlled Burns This Spring

Forests and grasslands in eastern Washington are at high risk for large, intense wildfire. This spring Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to using controlled burning on more than 1,000 acres in Okanogan, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties.

Shrubs and trees and transmission lines are in the foreground of the picture. White smoke rises in behind them in the background of the picture.

With wildfires increasing, the threat to utilities is also on the rise

Wildfires pose a threat to the energy sector — both the critical infrastructure that generates energy, like dams and wind turbines, and the infrastructure that delivers electricity to consumers, mainly transmission lines. The Sourdough Fire in Whatcom County has caused two dams that provide power to Seattle to go offline for stretches of multiple days — the Ross and Diablo dams. Earlier this summer, the Newell Road fire near Goldendale had crews battling flames under wind turbines.

The federal Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnerships Program is investing in 58 projects across 44 states. (Courtesy of Julien Maculan on Unsplash)

Federal grants could improve utility safety and add jobs

Four utilities in Washington state received funding from the U.S Department of Energy to strengthen the electrical grid against future wildfires and ensure reliability to customers. That funding comes from the federal Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnerships Program, which is investing in 58 projects across 44 states.

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