{{Short description|Natural disasters in the USA}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{infobox wildfire |title = 2023 Washington wildfires |image = Sourdough Fire from Pyramid Lake Trailhead - August 4, 2023.jpg |caption = The [[Sourdough Fire]] on August 4 |coordinates = |total_area = {{convert|165,365|acre|ha|abbr=off}} |total_fires =1,515 |date = March 2023–December 2023 |fatalities = 2 |is_season = yes |year = 2023 |season_name = Washington wildfires }} The '''2023 Washington wildfire season''' officially began in March 2023 in the US state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]].
Conditions going into the season were low-risk for fire, with higher than average precipitation over the prior winter and spring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf|title=National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook|at=Geographic Area Forecast – Northwest (p. 6)|publisher=[[National Interagency Fire Center]]|date=May 1, 2023|quote=Due to the predominantly cool and wet conditions, wildfire activity was limited ... Fuels remain too moist to support elevated risk of significant fires and are historically likely to remain so until June...Normal (i.e., very low) risk of significant fires is expected over the Northwest Geographic Area until July and August...}}</ref> Some experts anticipated a later peak, possibly into November, for the Pacific Northwest due to [[El Niño]] effects.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://katu.com/news/local/fire-season-begins-in-washington-state-experts-predict-late-wildfire-season-oregon-pacific-northwest-ellensburg-dnr-agencies/ |title=Fire season begins in Washington State, experts predict a late wildfire season|date=May 17, 2023 |publisher=Katu|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref>
The [[Washington State Department of Natural Resources]] planned to ignite [[controlled burn]]s on over {{Convert|2100|acre|km2|0}} to prevent larger fires from developing during the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=WA to burn thousands of acres of forest ahead of fire season |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/wa-to-burn-thousands-of-acres-of-forest-ahead-of-fire-season/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230328182757/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/wa-to-burn-thousands-of-acres-of-forest-ahead-of-fire-season/#selection-2007.5-2007.67 |date=March 28, 2023 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |url-status=live |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |last=Breda |first=Isabella}}</ref>
The Northwest Coordination Center upgraded the region's [[National preparedness level|preparedness level]] (referring to the availability of firefighting resources) from PL 1 to PL 2 on July 3, PL 3 on July 23, PL 4 on August 12, and PL5—the highest level—on August 19.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/content/products/intelligence/NW%20PL%20YTD%20&%20Historical%20Charts.pdf |title=Northwest Preparedness Levels |date=2023 |publisher=Northwest Coordination Center |access-date=August 22, 2023}}</ref>
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources dashboard reported that 1,515 fires burned at least {{Convert|146220|acre|ha|abbr=off}} in Washington through August, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DNR Wildfire Intel Dashboard |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6cdda73cf6154949a1fae76ccb2900a0/page/Main-Page/ |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=experience.arcgis.com |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Natural Resources]]}}</ref>
== Background == {{Further|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wildfire |url=https://mil.wa.gov/wildfire |website=mil.wa.gov |publisher=Emergency Management Division of Washington |access-date=April 26, 2025}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Conrad |title=WA's wildfire seasons will last longer, cut deeper |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/was-wildfire-seasons-will-last-longer-cut-deeper/ |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=The Seattle Times |date=August 19, 2023}}</ref>
==Fires== The 10th Street fire at [[East Wenatchee]] resulted in level 1 evacuations on May 27 and burned {{convert|250|acres}} of grass and [[sagebrush]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Level 1 Evacuations lifted for fire burning in East Wenatchee near 10th Street|author=Vincent Saglimbeni|date=May 28, 2023|publisher=[[KXLY (AM)]]|location=Spokane|url=https://www.kxly.com/news/level-1-evacuations-lifted-for-fire-burning-in-east-wenatchee-near-10th-street/article_5bf91304-fd7e-11ed-9926-db6097f9e1eb.html}}</ref>
The Old Naches Highway fire incident was reported on June 7. It had burned almost 645 acres by June 8.<ref>{{cite news|title=Old Naches Highway fire at 75% containment, control expected by Saturday|author1=Donald W. Meyers|author2=Joanna Markell|work=Yakima Herald-Republic |date=June 8, 2023|url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/old-naches-highway-fire-at-75-containment-control-expected-by-saturday/article_4f360b62-063a-11ee-adf7-3fb399ac6492.html}}</ref>
The 10,000 acre Hat Rock Fire in [[Oregon]] crossed into [[Walla Walla County]] on June 13, where it burned more than 1,000 acres before being contained.<ref>{{cite web |title=Update: Umatilla County fires 100% contained |first=Michael |last=LeCompte |orig-date=June 13, 2023 |date=July 19, 2023 |url= https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/update-wa-portion-of-hat-rock-fire-contained/article_c5c69242-0a27-11ee-95a5-b7180f2c1011.html |access-date=September 16, 2023}}</ref>
Three fires in grass and sagebrush in [[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]] burned 7,000 acres by June 16.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three fires burned 7,000 acres in Benton County. What is happening now?|author=Cameron Probert|date=June 16, 2023|newspaper=[[Tri-City Herald]]|location=Kennewick, Washington|via=Yahoo! News|url=https://news.yahoo.com/three-fires-burned-7-000-193617092.html}}</ref>
A wildfire under {{convert|100|acres}} near [[Lake Sutherland]] outside Olympic National Park was visible on June 18 from Victoria, British Columbia on the other side of the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wildfire near Port Angeles grows, more crews and equipment deployed; Smoke visible from Victoria shoreline, including Beacon Hill Park.|author=Darron Kloster|newspaper=[[Times Colonist]]|location=Victoria, British Columbia|date=June 19, 2023|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/winds-whip-up-wildfire-across-the-strait-near-port-angeles-7160719}}</ref>
The Oasis Fire near [[Touchet, Washington|Touchet]] grew to over {{convert|1500|acres}} by June 19, bringing evacuation orders by Walla Walla County emergency managers. State firefighting resources including tanker aircraft were mobilized to fight it.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oasis Fire prompts evacuation orders, state mobilization in Walla Walla County|publisher=KOMO News |via=Yahoo! News|date=June 19, 2023|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/oasis-fire-prompts-evacuation-orders-state-mobilization-in-walla-walla-county/ar-AA1cMnVB}}</ref>
The [[Tunnel Five Fire]] started near [[Underwood, Washington|Underwood]] in [[Skamania County, Washington|Skamania County]] on July 2. It burned {{Convert|529|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} and was 80% contained by July 10.<ref>{{cite news |last=Libby |first=Amy |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Tunnel Five Fire 80% contained; Highway 14 remains closed in the Gorge |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/jul/10/tunnel-five-fire-80-contained-highway-14-remains-closed-in-the-gorge/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
The McEwan Fire started near [[Mason Lake]], in Western Washington {{convert|30|miles|-1}} southwest of Seattle on July 2. {{As of|2023|7|5|df=US}}, it had caused evacuations of hundreds of homes, had burned over {{Convert|250|acres}}, and was uncontained.<ref>{{cite news|title=Evacuations downgraded but could take weeks to quell McEwan Fire in Mason County|publisher=[[KIRO-TV]] News |date= July 5, 2023|url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/mcewan-fire-causes-level-3-evacuations-dozens-mason-county/S64GD7NQDVG2RCYIJULV7FA36A/}}</ref>
The [[Eagle Bluff Fire]] started near [[Oroville, Washington]], at about 2:00 pm [[Pacific Time Zone|PT]] on July 29, 2023.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=NWCC :: Home |url=https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/fire_info.php |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=gacc.nifc.gov}}</ref> By July 29, the fire reached 10,000 acres; by July 30, with 15 aircraft were fighting it.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=KIRO-TV|location=Seattle|title=15 aircraft working to put out Okanogan County fire as its spreads to Canada|date=July 30, 2023|url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/15-aircraft-working-put-out-okanogan-county-fire-its-spreads-canada/VHV4ELX7LJAVLJMYPPISJWR6K4/}}</ref> The fire crossed into Canada on July 30–31 and Level 3 evacuations (leave now) were downgraded to level 1 and 2 evacuations.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune|location=Oroville, Washington|title=Eagle Bluff fire near Oroville estimated at 10,000 acres, jumps border|author=Gary DeVon |date=July 31, 2023|url=https://www.gazette-tribune.com/news/eagle-bluff-fire-near-oroville-estimated-at-10000-acres-jumps-border/86646/}}</ref> {{as of|2023|8|8|df=US}} the fire burned a total of {{Convert|34049|acre|ha}} between Canadian and US soil. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Eagle Bluff Fire |url=http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wanes-eagle-bluff |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=InciWeb |language=en}}</ref> The cause of the fire is still unknown and under an active investigation.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />The fire approached within kilometers of [[Osoyoos]], British Columbia on July 31, and the entire town of Osoyoos was on evacuation alert.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crews watching wind as fire continues threatening Osoyoos, B.C.|publisher=CBC|via=MSN|date=July 31, 2023|url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/crews-watching-wind-as-fire-continues-threatening-osoyoos-bc/ar-AA1eB1PF}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Osoyoos wildfire: Winds play key role as raging fire remains a threat|publisher=The Canadian Press|via=Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia|date=July 31, 2023|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/osoyoos-bc-fire-update-winds}}</ref> By July 30, three structures had been damaged or destroyed by the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goggins |first=Shawn |date=2023-07-30 |title=Structures lost to 8,000-acre Eagle Bluff Fire burning a mile from Oroville |url=https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/structures-lost-to-8-000-acre-eagle-bluff-fire-burning-a-mile-from-oroville/article_49362b4a-2f1e-11ee-b2ee-9b06e809a414.html |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Source ONE News |language=en}}</ref> Nearby highways, including [[U.S. Route 97 in Washington|U.S. Route 97]], were temporarily closed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eagle Bluff Fire: Most evacuation orders lifted in U.S. and Canada, but fire continues |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 31, 2023 |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/31/eagle-bluff-fire-most-evacuation-orders-lifted-in-/ |access-date=2023-08-01}}</ref> Three structures had been lost to the fire by June 30, and hundreds of residences threatened by the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goggins |first=Shawn |date=2023-07-30 |title=Structures lost to 8,000-acre Eagle Bluff Fire burning a mile from Oroville |url=https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/structures-lost-to-8-000-acre-eagle-bluff-fire-burning-a-mile-from-oroville/article_49362b4a-2f1e-11ee-b2ee-9b06e809a414.html |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Source ONE News |language=en}}</ref>
The [[North Cascades Highway]] was closed for several days due to the [[Sourdough Fire]]. Trailheads, trails, and camping in [[North Cascades National Park]] remained closed after the road reopened on August 9.<ref>{{cite news|title=North Cascades Highway reopens after closing due to 1,700-acre Sourdough Fire |publisher=KOMO-TV|date=August 9, 2023|url=https://komonews.com/news/wildfire/sourdough-fire-north-cascades-highway-open-sr20-north-cascades-national-park-washington-wildfires-wildfire-season-diablo-lake-wsdot-backcountry-campsites-closed}}</ref> The highway was closed again due to the fire's growth as well as the formation of the Blue Lake Fire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Lisa |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Fire closure of North Cascades Highway is hurting local businesses |url=https://mynorthwest.com/3921359/north-cascades-highway-closure-due-to-fire-is-also-hurting-business/ |work=MyNorthwest.com |accessdate=August 19, 2023}}</ref> Smoke from this fire and other fires in inland Washington and British Columbia was pushed towards Western Washington and rapid [[convective mixing]] caused unhealthy air quality in Seattle on August 20–21.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Seattle air quality among worst in world due to wildfire smoke|author=Elise Takahama|date=August 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Smoke Increased Rapidly this Afternoon But Soon Will Be History: Call it a "smoke storm" perhaps, but the well-forecast onslaught of mainly British Columbia wildfire smoke came in with a vengeance.|website=Cliff Mass Weather Blog|author=[[Cliff Mass]]|date=August 20, 2023|url=https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/08/smoke-increased-rapidly-this-afternoon.html}}</ref>
The [[Gray Fire]] was ignited on August 18 near [[Medical Lake, Washington|Medical Lake]] in Spokane County and grew to over {{convert|9,500|acre|ha}} within a day. It prompted the evacuation of Medical Lake and parts of [[Cheney, Washington|Cheney]] and shut down portions of [[Interstate 90 in Washington|Interstate 90]] and [[Washington State Route 902|State Route 902]].<ref name="Spokesman-Aug19">{{cite news |date=August 19, 2023 |title=Medical Lake wildfire has burned 185 structures and 9,500 acres. It is 10% contained |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/aug/19/medical-lake-wildfire-has-burned-9000-acres-and-0-/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |accessdate=August 19, 2023}}</ref> One death was determined to be from the Gray Fire while another was caused by the nearby Oregon Road Fire.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-19 |title=One Dead, Dozens of Buildings Destroyed in Washington State Wildfire |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/us/washington-wildfire-four-lakes.html |access-date=2023-08-23 |last1=Medina |first1=Eduardo |last2=Walters |first2=Daniel }}</ref>
The [[Oregon Fire]] began on the same day as the Gray Fire, August 18. Driven by hot, dry, gusty winds the fire grew rapidly. 126 homes were lost and one person was killed.<ref name=latest>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2023 |title=Latest Details {{!}} Gray Fire and Oregon Road Fire |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/wildfire/latest-updates-gray-fire-oregon-road-fire/293-da760d91-83bf-4997-8651-9579189f0c93 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=krem.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== List of wildfires == <!--NOTE: By convention, please only include fires that are over 1,000 acres, unless significant property damage or loss of life occurred.--> The following is a list of Washington wildfires in 2023 that burned more than {{Convert|1000|acre|ha|abbr=off}}, resulted in casualties or significant damage to structures, or were otherwise notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up to date. {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" |Name ! scope="col" |County<!-- Burning in --> ! scope="col" |Acres ! scope="col" |Start date ! scope="col" |Containment date{{Efn|Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[KCAL-TV]]|location=Los Angeles|title=What containment and other wildfire related terms mean|date=September 12, 2024|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/what-does-containment-mean-wildfire-evacuation-warning-order-red-flag/|access-date=2025-07-25}}</ref>}} ! scope="col" |Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Refs |- ! scope="row" |[[Tunnel Five Fire|Tunnel Five]] |[[Skamania County, Washington|Skamania]]||529 |{{dts|2023|7|2|format=md}} |July 2023 |Destroyed ten homes. |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tunnel Five Fire |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wases-tunnel-five-fire |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=InciWeb}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |Airplane Lake |[[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan]]||6,956 |{{dts|2023|7|7|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|9|24|format=md}} | |<ref>{{cite web |date=August 22, 2023 |title=2023 Airplane Lake OWF |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wa0617-2023-airplane-lake-owf |publisher=InciWeb |accessdate=August 22, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |[[Newell Road Fire|Newell Road]] |[[Klickitat County, Washington|Klickitat]]||60,551 |{{dts|2023|7|21|format=md}} |July 29 |Cause under investigation |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Newell Road Fire – Incident Information |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-newell-road |access-date=July 29, 2023 |website=InciWeb – Incident Information System}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |[[Eagle Bluff Fire|Eagle Bluff]] |[[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan]]||34,049 |{{dts|2023|7|29|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|8|8|format=md}} | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eagle Bluff Fire |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wacof-eagle-bluff |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=InciWeb – Incident Information System}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |[[Sourdough Fire|Sourdough]] |[[Whatcom County, Washington|Whatcom]]||6,369 |{{dts|2023|10|1|format=md}} | |<ref>{{cite web |date=August 20, 2023 |title=Sourdough Fire Update – August 20, 2023 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-publication/warlp-sourdough-fire/sourdough-fire-update-august-20-2023 |publisher=InciWeb |accessdate=August 20, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |[[Gray Fire|Gray]] |[[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane]]||10,085 |{{dts|2023|8|18|format=md}} |{{center|}}September 1 |265 structures destroyed; one death reported<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charles |first=Sydney A. |date=2023-08-23 |title=Firewatch: Gray Fire burning in Medical Lake now 48% contained |url=https://www.kxly.com/news/firewatch-gray-fire-burning-in-medical-lake-now-48-contained/article_9d9702ce-40f1-11ee-a97d-07fdf32fb03a.html |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=kxly.com |language=en}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |date=August 19, 2023 |title=Gray Fire |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wanes-gray-fire |publisher=InciWeb |accessdate=August 19, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |[[Oregon Fire|Oregon]] |[[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane]]||10,817 |{{dts|2023|8|18|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|9|17|format=md}} |384 structures destroyed (126 homes); one death reported<ref name=latest/> |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-16 |title=Oregon Fire |url=http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wanes-oregon-fire |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=InciWeb |language=en}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |Olympic National Park Lightning Fires |[[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson]]||4,795 |{{dts|2023|9|1|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|10|18|format=md}} | |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=2023 Olympic National Park Lightning Fires |url=http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/waolp-2023-olympic-national-park-lightning-fires |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=InciWeb |language=en}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |Blue Lake |[[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan]]||1,074 |{{dts|2023|9|1|format=md}} |{{dts|2023|12|11|format=md}} | |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=Blue Lake Fire |url=http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/waowf-blue-lake-fire |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=InciWeb |language=en}}</ref> |}
== See also ==
* [[List of Washington wildfires]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite news|title=PNW primed for wildfire as officials prepare for likely active season|author=Isabella Breda|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=June 26, 2023|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/pnw-primed-for-wildfire-as-officials-prepare-for-likely-active-season}}
==External links== * [https://www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires Washington wildfires] Washington State Department of Natural Resources
{{Washington wildfires}} {{2023 wildfires}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, wildfires 2023}} [[Category:2023 in Washington (state)|Wildfires]] [[Category:Wildfires in Washington (state) by year|2023]] [[Category:2023 Washington (state) wildfires| ]] [[Category:Meteorological events in 2023]]