Eleven major wildfires across Washington state have consumed more than 237,000 acres, threatening homes and forcing highway closures as firefighting resources strain to contain the blazes.
The Labor Mountain Fire burning near Blewett Pass along Highway 97 has expanded to over 37,000 acres with only 7% containment as of October 1. The fire has prompted evacuation orders affecting 567 structures and forced a 30-mile closure of Highway 97.
Jeff Dimke, Labor Mountain Fire Incident Commander, oversees approximately 1,300 fire personnel assigned to combat the blaze.
The Lower Sugarloaf Fire, located about 12 miles northeast of Leavenworth, has burned over 39,000 acres with multiple evacuation levels in effect. Approximately 1,100 firefighters are working to contain that fire.
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove met with fire crews in Cle Elum, calling on lawmakers to restore funding for wildfire preparedness and response efforts under House Bill 1168.
“If the legislature doesn’t restore our wildfire prevention and response funding, we will see more fires, bigger fires, and higher costs to taxpayers with more smoke impacting people’s health,” Upthegrove stated.
Upthegrove emphasized widespread public health impacts from wildfire smoke affecting residents statewide. “Every part of the state of Washington has been impacted by wildfire smoke this year, and it can have a very serious health impact,” he said.
The fire season’s intensity has strained state firefighting resources and highlighted ongoing debates about adequate funding for prevention and suppression efforts. House Bill 1168 addresses funding mechanisms for wildfire management programs.
Highway 97 serves as a major north-south corridor through central Washington, making its extended closure particularly disruptive to commercial and recreational traffic. Travelers face significant detours around the fire zone.
The simultaneous major fires demonstrate the challenges facing Washington’s wildfire management system as climate conditions create longer, more intense fire seasons requiring sustained resource deployment.
