There have been more fires in Washington State so far this year than ever before, but fewer acres have burned. According to the Department of Natural Resources, there have been 731 fires so far, with more than 200 of them burning on the Western side of the state.
“It’s the most we’ve ever had on record and we’re not even in the worst part of our season,” said Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands. She says about 32,000 acres have burned so far; last year, by the end of the summer, 400,000 acres were burned.
Franz credits asset management with the reduction in fire damage.
