Wildfires near 300 in Washington, DNR unveils new firefighting tool

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is unveiling a new tool to add to their firefighting fleet.

Finding water while fighting wildfires isn't always easy, which is why the DNR’s three new pumpkin tanks will come in handy.

"This enables us to be more efficient with our time, be more able to get on the fires quickly,” said Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands.

Franz said wildfire season has already begun.

There have been at least 296 wildfires in Washington so far this year. That's nearly triple the 10-year average of 103 fires by mid-May.

Twenty-five percent of the wildfires have been west of the Cascades.

"People are staying home, they are staying safe, they have time on their hands and they're doing yardwork and, unfortunately, they're burning those debris piles and they're getting out of control,” said Franz.

The DNR doesn't think wildfire season is going to slow down soon.

On top of fighting wildfires, the DNR is also juggling social distancing and online firefighter training.

"We're literally building the manual as we're in it for how to keep our firefighters safe from COVID,” said Franz.

Air resources are always vital. This year, they're even more critical because of COVID-19.

The DNR has 10 Vietnam War-era helicopters. Some have belly tanks with hoses, which can suck up water and dump it on the flames. Other helicopters have Bambi buckets, which scoop up water to drop on burning forests and fields.

The DNR’s new pumpkin tanks save travel time by bringing 4,400 gallons of water closer to the front lines.

“It's also enabled us to cut about 30 hours out of our flight training program because we can turn drops so quick out here,” said Dave Richie, DNR Chief Pilot.

The pumpkin tanks are important new tools that will make firefighter's jobs more efficient and safe.

"In any year our fire season is tough and it is challenging, it is even more challenging in the context of a global pandemic,” said Franz.

The DNR said forecasts show Washington and Oregon have the worst wildfire risk now through August.

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