Jolly Mountain Fire

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]

Jolly Mountain Fire
Fire as seen from government firefighting aircraft on August 30, 2017
LocationWenatchee National Forest
Kittitas County, Washington
Coordinates47.34°N 121.04°W / 47.34; -121.04
Statistics
CostUnknown
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
Burned area36,808 acres (14,896 ha) as of November 2, 2017[1]
CauseLightning
Land useForest and residential
Map
Location of fire in Washington
Season
← 2016
2018 →

History

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.[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]

Environmental impact

The fire affected an endangered species, the northern spotted owl.[26]

  • Satellite image of Washington showing active fires in the Cascade Mountains
  • Ground-level panorama of normal conditions
  • Ground-level panorama of fire
  • From government firefighting aircraft on August 30
  • Ash on an outdoor table near Seattle, September 5

References
  1. Jolly Mountain Fire incident information dated November 2, 2017; accessed 2017-11-09
  2. Kaitlin Bain (November 2, 2017), "Jolly Mountain Fire still burning; 100 percent contained", Yakima Herald Republic – via Ellensburg Daily Record
  3. Jolly Mountain Active Fire Map, Kittitas County GIS, retrieved August 31, 2017
  4. Donald W. Meyers (August 18, 2017), "C. Washington wildfires thwart campers, hikers, drivers", Yakima Herald
  5. Dave Bernstein (August 24, 2017), Jolly Mountain Fire near Cle Elum over 1,700 acres, KPQ (AM) News
  6. Fire growth chart, US Forest Service Great Basin Incident Management Team Region 4, dated August 31, 2017 (accessed at noon Pacific)
  7. Sarah Anne Lloyd, A smoky haze returns to Seattle as wildfire burns in the Cascades / But it's not as thick as earlier this summer—and shouldn't last as long, Curbed Seattle
  8. Gustavo Olguin (August 28, 2017), Firefighters setting fire lines around Jolly Mountain Fire to 'trap' the blaze, Yakima: KIMA-TV
  9. Kaitlin Bain (August 29, 2017), "No relief in sight from Norse Peak, Jolly Mountain fires; air quality deteriorating", Yakima Herald
  10. Cliff Mass (University of Washington) (August 29, 2017), "Smoke Returns and More Warm, Dry Weather Ahead", Cliff Mass weather blog
  11. Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center activated for Jolly Mountain Fire, Yakima: KAPP-TV, August 29, 2017
  12. Wildfire smoke is back in Seattle area; here's how long it will stay, Seattle: KIRO-TV, August 30, 2017
  13. Be Aware of Changing Air Quality Conditions (press release), Kittitas County Sheriff, August 30, 2017
  14. Christine Clarridge (August 31, 2017), "Jolly Mountain Fire sparks emergency evacuations near Cle Elum", The Seattle Times
  15. Q13 News staff and Associated Press (August 31, 2017), Jolly Mountain Fire: 154 homes evacuated near Cle Elum, KCPQ-TVCS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  16. "Washington state mobilizes to fight Jolly Mountain Fire, where 3,800 homes are in peril", The Seattle Times, September 2, 2017
  17. Air Quality "VERY UNHEALTHY" in Wenatchee, KPQ News, September 2, 2017
  18. Miles Jay Oliver (September 2, 2017), "Jolly Mountain Fire threatens 3,800 homes, unhealthy levels of smoke hit Yakima", Yakima Herald
  19. Jolly Mountain Fire incident information, accessed 2017-09-04
  20. Tammy Mutasa (September 4, 2017), Wildfires creating dangerous air quality conditions in Eastern Washington, Seattle: KOMO-TV
  21. "Monday fire update: Ellensburg declares state of emergency, evacuation levels the same", Ellensburg Daily Record, September 4, 2017
  22. Evan Bush, "Ash falls like snow in Seattle as wildfires rage in Pacific Northwest", Alaska Dispatch News, Anchorage
  23. September 20 update, US Fire Service
  24. Jolly Mountain Fire incident information, accessed 2017-09-29
  25. Kaitlin Bain (September 29, 2017), "Evacuation orders lifted for Jolly Mountain Fire", Yakima Herald-Republic
  26. COURTNEY FLATT (September 8, 2017), Wildfires Are Big Trouble For The Northwest's Lynx, Pygmy Rabbits And Other Creatures, KUOW-FM

Sources
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