State leaders are predicting an extremely challenging wildfire season this year with drier conditions and limited help from the feds and other states because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, they said during a telebriefing with reporters Thursday.
Fire departments and fire districts are already making changes to their approach.
For example, firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District 7 are planning to stock their rigs with 7 days of food and water - instead of just one - when they get called out to major wildfires so they can be self-sufficient for a week, if needed.
"Everything is having to be looked at differently. Different preparedness, where our crews would be more prepared than just having a day's worth of food and that stuff to get over to the fires," said Heather Chadwick with Snohomish County Fire District 7.