Crews dealing with more fires amid stretch of warm, dry weather

BELLEVUE, Wash. — We’re already starting to see the impact of dry conditions as firefighters are starting to deal with more brush fires, including two in Bellevue this weekend.

Bellevue Fire crews responded to reports of trees on fire near a trailhead at 121st Avenue Southeast and Southeast Ninth Place on Sunday afternoon. It was the second brush fire they fought that day.

King County is under a Stage 1 Burn Ban that specifically concerns yard debris and residential burning.

Skagit County will activate a burn ban in four days. KIRO 7 checked on Pierce County, but no burn ban has been declared there yet. According to the county, burn bans usually occur from July to October.

Meanwhile, crews are working to put out a wildfire in Orondo in Central Washington.

The fire started on Saturday. A Level 1 — be aware — evacuation order was issued for the area east of Fisher Lane near the crest to the plateau, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

By Sunday evening, the fire was about 75% contained.

The Bellevue Fire Department said one of the best things you can do to prevent brush or wildland fires from spreading is to be proactive by creating defensible space — a buffer zone — around your home that has been cleared of anything that could catch fire.

Find more information about creating a defensible safe and fire safety at this link.

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