Spokane, Wash. — Residents across Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho should prepare for one of the most dangerous fire weather days in recent memory.
A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) designation takes effect tomorrow, marking the first time the National Weather Service has upgraded a red flag warning to this critical alert level in Washington state history. The designation signals conditions far more severe than the typical red flag warnings that have become routine in the region.
Spokane Fire District 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach said the combination of forecasted wind, available fuel for fires, and high temperatures creates a perfect storm for rapid fire spread and development.
“This event is similar to the event of September 7th, 2020 where we saw the babb road fire, here in south spokane county that burned all the way to Pine City with 189 structures lost,” Rohrbach said. “This is the first time in Washington state history where the weather service has upgraded a red flag to a PDS…so that’s really indicative of how severe the conditions are tomorrow.”
The September 2020 fire Rohrbach referenced devastated the region, destroying nearly 200 structures. However, fire officials say tomorrow’s forecast is unprecedented in its severity.
The danger extends beyond the potential for new fires to ignite. Rohrbach warned that fires already burning across the region could experience dramatic growth under tomorrow’s conditions.
“Those already existing large fires will probably see significant fire growth tomorrow on top of any potential new starts that will be really difficult to contain,” Rohrbach said.
Given the heightened risk, fire officials are urging residents to take action today rather than wait until an emergency develops. Rohrbach emphasized the importance of having an evacuation plan in place before a fire threatens a home.
“Some things folks can do today is talk about ‘Hey what would we do in the event of an emergency? Do we have our go bag? Are we ready to leave on short notice in the event that we had to?’ So just planning before you have an emergency is always better than trying to figure it out during the emergency,” Rohrbach said.
Residents should consider preparing a “go bag” with essential documents, medications, and valuables that can be grabbed quickly if evacuation becomes necessary. Families should also discuss their evacuation route and have a plan for where they will go if ordered to leave.
Despite the severity of tomorrow’s fire weather, Rohrbach said fire officials across the region are positioned and ready to respond. State fire assistance has been mobilized ahead of the increased fire danger, with fire officials pre-stationed in 13 counties across Washington state, including Spokane and Stevens counties.
“We want folks with a heightened sense of awareness but not fearful…the good news is that everyone is positioned and ready with additional resources…and are ready to come and help out in the event that there are any new starts,” Rohrbach said.
The pre-positioning of resources and personnel across multiple counties reflects the seriousness with which fire officials are treating tomorrow’s conditions. Additional firefighting crews and equipment will be strategically placed to respond quickly to any new fires that develop.
Residents should monitor local news and emergency alerts throughout tomorrow and be prepared to evacuate immediately if ordered to do so by local authorities.
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