Spokane’s wildfire season has been mild, helped by colder weather, but firefighters are ready for a late start.
“We’ve been blessed so far,” Spokane Fire Department Chief Brian Schaeffer said.
Among other benefits, Schaeffer said the slow wildfire season has saved money for the fire department, noting that the department’s budget for overtime for firefighters is $240,000 less today than it was last year.
Fire officials and meteorologists are expecting the remainder of the summer to be hotter and drier, which will likely lead to more fires.
“In the past, when we have had similar slow starts to the season, we have seen the fire season extend further into September,” he said.
Mark Turner, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Spokane, said that expecting a later fire season due to a slow start makes sense.