2014 Washington wildfires

Wildfire season in Washington, United States May 2025 September 2015 2014 Washington wildfires 2014 Carlton Complex WA National Guard.jpg The Carlton Complex on July 21, 2014 2014 year-end fire statistics http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2014_Statssumm/fires_acres14.pdf National Interagency Fire Center September 3, 2015 June 28, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180628035328/https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/2014_Statssumm/fires_acres14.pdf dead 386,972 acre km2 0 1,480 300 1 yes 2014 Washington wildfires The 2014 Washington wildfires were a series of 1,480 wildfires that burned 386,972 acre km2 0 over the course of 2014. The first occurred primarily on the east side of the Cascade Range in Chelan and Okanogan counties.September 2015 The fires burned private land, state land, and within the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, ultimately covering over 350000 acre sqmi km2 2. The first fire began on July 8 near the Entiat River. On July 14 a lightning storm started dozens more fires across the eastern Cascade Range. Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency, activating the Washington National Guard. More lightning strikes later in the summer started additional fires. Background List of Washington wildfires While the typical "fire season" in Washington varies every year based on weather conditions, most wildfires occur in between July and October.Wildfire https://mil.wa.gov/wildfire mil.wa.gov Emergency Management Division of Washington April 26, 2025 However, hotter, drier conditions can allow wildfires to start outside of these boundaries. Wildfires tend to start at these times of the year after moisture from winter and spring precipitation dries up. Vegetation and overall conditions are the hottest and driest in these periods. The increase of vegetation can make the fires spread easier.Swanson Conrad WA's wildfire seasons will last longer, cut deeper https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/was-wildfire-seasons-will-last-longer-cut-deeper/ April 26, 2025 The Seattle Times August 19, 2023 Mills Canyon fire The Mills Canyon fire burned 22571 acre sqmi km2 3, all within Chelan County. The fire was located south of the Entiat River and west of U.S. Route 97A and the Columbia River in the Entiat Mountains. It started on July 8 and the cause is under investigation. July 14 lightning-strike fires thumb|right|Satellite image of smoke plumes, July 18, 2014 A number of fires were started by lightning strikes on July 14. Carlton Complex Carlton Complex Fire thumb|right|Carlton complex fire scar in false-color infrared, July 31, 2014. Burned vegetation appears red, and the most severely burned areas are generally the darkest. Unburned forests appear dark green. Actively growing farmland is bright green; unburned grasslands and brushlands are tan; and rivers are navy blue. Scale bar at lower left is 5km (3 mi.) thumb|right|Weeks after a wildfire in 2014 destroyed much of the town of Pateros, this was all that remained of several blocks that were burned down to the foundations. The Carlton Complex, covering 256108 acre sqmi km2 4, began as four separate lightning-caused fires on July 14 in the Methow River valley of Okanogan County: the Cougar Flat, French Creek, Gold Hike, and Stokes fires. These fires merged and rapidly spread southeast on July 17, burning approximately 300 homes in and around the towns of Pateros and Malott as well as in more rural areas. The communities of Brewster, Carlton, and Methow were also threatened by fire. Power was lost to the communities of Twisp and Winthrop. Road closures included State Route 20 east of Twisp towards Loup Loup Pass, State Route 153 between Twisp and Pateros, and U.S. Route 97 between Pateros and Brewster. Rain slowed the fire on July 24, allowing crews to reach 60% containment by July 26. A new fire started along State Route 20 south of Winthrop on August 1. The Carlton Complex was the largest wildfire in Washington state's recorded history, surpassing the 1902 Yacolt Burn. One death, caused by a heart attack, has been blamed on the fire. Fire fighting efforts included nearly 3,000 personnel and numerous aircraft, including seven UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Washington National Guard and a DC-10 Air Tanker. Chiwaukum Creek fire Located northwest of Leavenworth in the Chiwaukum Mountains, this fire burned 13895 acre sqmi km2 3. It required the closure of U.S. Route 2 and the evacuation of nearly 900 homes, threatening the communities of Coles Corner, Winton, and Plain. A pyrocumulus cloud could be seen rising above the fire from as far away as Seattle. Part of the Chiwaukum Creek Fire burned within the northeastern boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Duncan fire Covering 12659 acre sqmi km2 2, the Duncan fire was located in the upper Entiat River drainage. It began on a ridge between the Entiat River and the North Fork Entiat River, eventually spreading east across the North Fork. Kelly Mountain fire Located in the Entiat Mountains near Tommy Creek, the Kelly Mountain fire burned 124 acre sqmi km2 1. Lone Mountain fire Located in the Boulder Creek drainage northeast of Stehekin, the Lone Mountain fire burned 2770 acre sqmi km2 2. It was within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, part of the North Cascades National Park complex. August 2 lightning-strike fires Devil's Elbow Complex – 26349 acre sqmi km2 1. This complex was made up of four fires on the Colville Indian Reservation north of Keller, Washington in Ferry County. The fires required closing State Route 21. Hansel fire – 1016 acre sqmi km2 1. The Hansel fire burned near Ingalls Creek and U.S. Route 97 in Chelan County. Little Bridge Creek fire – 4896 acre sqmi km2 2. Located between the Twisp River and State Route 20 in Okanogan County. Shoofly fire – 160 acre sqmi km2 2 in the upper drainage of the Little Wenatchee River in Chelan County. Snag Canyon fire – 12667 acre sqmi km2 2. Located north of Ellensburg in Kittitas County, the Snag Canyon fire burned six homes. Upper Falls fire – 8118 acre sqmi km2 2. This fire burned in the Okanogan National Forest west of the Chewuch River. South Cle Elum Ridge fire This fire was reported on August 7 on the Wenatchee National Forest southwest of Cle Elum in Kittitas County and burned 894 acre sqmi km2 2. See also List of Washington wildfires References Mills Canyon Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System July 18, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3937/ July 18, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140718105355/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3937/ dead Carlton Complex InciWeb: Incident Information System July 21, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3967/ August 12, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150812095709/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3967/ dead Lone Mountain 1 Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System July 21, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3978/ July 26, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140726002251/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3978 dead Chiwaukum Complex InciWeb: Incident Information System July 21, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3976/ July 5, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150705014445/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3976/ dead Snag Canyon Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System August 3, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4046/ August 8, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140808010455/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4046/ dead Little Bridge Creek Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System August 6, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4051/ August 7, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140807060825/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4051/ dead Upper Falls Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System August 6, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4060/ August 9, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140809210244/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4060/ dead South Cle Elum Ridge Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System August 8, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4066/ August 10, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140810153738/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4066/ dead Duncan Fire InciWeb: Incident Information System August 9, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4069/ August 10, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140810234922/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4069/ dead Devil's Elbow Complex InciWeb: Incident Information System August 16, 2014 http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4059/ August 15, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140815033344/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4059/ dead Lone Mountain Fire Update—July 21st a.m. July 21, 2014 North Cascades National Park, U.S. National Park Service July 21, 2014 https://home.nps.gov/noca/learn/news/lone-mountain-fire-update-july-21st-morning.htm Geranios Nicholas K. Johnson Gene http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2014/07/19/damage-from-washington-wildfires-hard-believe/rmGZgRSE8A58gpEsiy6TJJ/story.html Damage from Washington Wildfires 'Hard to Believe' The Associated Press Boston.com July 19, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140727213445/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2014/07/19/damage-from-washington-wildfires-hard-believe/rmGZgRSE8A58gpEsiy6TJJ/story.html July 27, 2014 dead mdy Fire Update for Mills Canyon, Chiwaukum, Kelly MT n, & Duncan Fires InciWeb: Incident Information System http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/3937/22381/ July 19, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140721182614/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/3937/22381/ July 21, 2014 live mdy Wildfire near Leavenworth closes stretch of Highway 2 Seattle Times and wire services YakimaHerald.com July 17, 2014 http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnews/2344510-8/wildfire-near-leavenworth-closes-stretch-of-highway-2 https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055017/http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnews/2344510-8/wildfire-near-leavenworth-closes-stretch-of-highway-2 August 8, 2014 dead mdy-all July 19, 2014 O'Sullivan Joseph Firefighting crews hunker down for long haul July 21, 2014 The Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024129162_firestuesdayxml.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140722211739/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024129162_firestuesdayxml.html July 22, 2014 dead mdy Crews plan controlled burn near Carlton complex wildfire July 26, 2014 The Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024172619_firesundayxml.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140811233356/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024172619_firesundayxml.html August 11, 2014 dead mdy Homes Destroyed by Wildfire Total 300, Okanogan Sheriff Says July 25, 2014 Twisp, Washington Associated Press The Seattle Times http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/07/homes-destroyed-by-wildfire-total-300-okanogan-sheriff-says/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140811232224/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/07/homes-destroyed-by-wildfire-total-300-okanogan-sheriff-says/ August 11, 2014 dead mdy July 27, 2014 Rosbach Molly Snag Canyon fire destroys 6 homes; area reduced to 1,830 acres August 3, 2014 Yakima Herald-Republic http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2387090-8/fire-north-of-ellensburg-at-3600-acres https://web.archive.org/web/20140805113430/http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2387090-8/fire-north-of-ellensburg-at-3600-acres August 5, 2014 dead mdy-all August 4, 2014 Further reading Welch Craig July 18, 2014 Lightning, wind and high, dry grass: a recipe for conflagration The Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024107288_wildfireoverviewxml.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140809051046/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024107288_wildfireoverviewxml.html August 9, 2014 live mdy Wildfires Category:Wildfires in Washington (state) by year