Notice for City of Gold Bar & All of Snohomish County Residence
Please see below messages from Fire Chief Eric Andrews and Department of Emergency Management Mark Murphy on current fire danger, also make sure to check Fire District 26 website http://www.snofire26.org/wildfire-prepardness.html for updates and information on fire danger and what you can do make sure your property has adequate Defensible Space for Wildfires!
From Chief Eric Andrews (Fire District 26)
The fire danger weather watch has been upgraded to RED FLAG warning for Thursday August 18 from 0800 until Midnight by the National Weather Service. Red Flag is the highest level of Fire Weather warning possible and indicates conditions exist that can result in rapid explosive fire growth. Burn restrictions are in affect for all of Snohomish County. Preparation is your best defense. Please review and understand the three levels of evacuation that could be issued in the event of a fire emergency. We can expect other days that may result in red flag warnings in the coming week. Thank you for taking time to prepare.
From Mark Murphy (Department of Emergency Management)
The NWS has issued an Excessive Heat Watch and a Fire Weather Watch for Western Washington.
Excessive Heat Watch – Daytime highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s and nighttime lows in the 50s are forecast for Thursday through Saturday evening.
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE HOT TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM, STAY OUT OF THE SUN, AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
Fire Weather Watch – Low relative humidity and breezy conditions (east winds 10 to 20, 15 to 25 MPH on exposed ridges) are forecast for Thursday through Friday night.
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. MONITOR THE FORECASTS FOR POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.
In customary fashion when moving from forecast to occurring conditions I expect the NWS will update their Watches to Warnings by Wednesday or early Thursday. If actual conditions do not change significantly from forecast this alert will serve as notification of both forecast Watches and subsequent Warnings. Updates to follow as needed.
V/R Mark
DEM Duty Officer