Wildfire Season in Vancouver, Washington: What You Need to Know and How to Prepare

Did you know that Washington state has an unofficial fifth season? In addition to the familiar seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter, there’s one that doesn’t quite fit into the usual calendar—fire season. For those of us living in Southwest Washington, particularly in Vancouver and Clark County, fire season is a critical period that overlaps with the late summer and early fall months, typically spanning from July to October. As temperatures rise, humidity drops, and wildfires become more common, it’s essential to understand how to prepare and respond to these events.

What is Fire Season?

Fire season in Washington is marked by dry conditions, hot weather, and sometimes, sudden and severe thunderstorms that bring lightning strikes, which are a common cause of wildfires. The National Weather Service frequently issues fire weather watches, alerting residents when conditions are ripe for fire outbreaks. It’s not uncommon to see these advisories throughout the summer, especially during long periods of high temperatures and low humidity.

In the Vancouver area, wildfires are not an everyday occurrence, but they can happen quickly and without warning. Recent years have shown us just how vulnerable we are, and each season we face the risk of fires sparked by human activity or natural events. In fact, burn bans are a regular feature of the season, with authorities restricting recreational fires, yard debris burning, and sometimes even the use of charcoal grills.

As someone who has lived in the area for years, I’ve learned a lot about the reality of fire season in Southwest Washington. In this post, I’m sharing tips on how to prepare your home and family for wildfires, as well as personal stories about the unpredictability of fire season, to help you stay safe and informed.

My Personal Experience with Wildfires

In 2020, a series of fires around the Detroit Lake area in Oregon, just south of us, demonstrated how quickly these situations can escalate. Strong winds from the south merged several fires into one massive blaze, sending thick smoke throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Southwest Washington. For two weeks, the sky in Vancouver was an eerie orange, and the air was so thick with smoke that going outside felt like walking through fog, except that it stung your eyes and throat.

Our air quality was so poor during that time, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting hazardous levels, that we had to take extraordinary measures just to keep our home safe. We live in a home built in 1901, which means it’s drafty and vulnerable to outside conditions. My husband and I used painter's tape around the doors, laid towels along the door thresholds, and ran hospital-grade HEPA filters to clean the air inside our home.

One thing I learned from this experience is the importance of having a plan in place before the fire season begins. While Vancouver itself was not directly affected by the fires in 2020, we were on the receiving end of the smoke and poor air quality from fires all over the region. This showed me how interconnected we are, and how critical it is to be prepared, even if the immediate threat seems distant.

Fast Forward to 2022: A Close Call

In 2022, wildfires hit closer to home. A fire started just a few miles from my property, possibly caused by a dirt bike or a stray gunshot sparking dry grass. I wasn’t even home when the emergency unfolded. I had flown to Texas for a real estate conference, but my husband texted me that the sky over our home had turned smoky, and it wasn’t long before we were placed under a Level 1 evacuation order.

Within an hour, we were upgraded to a Level 2 order, meaning we had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Panic set in as I tried to manage the situation from hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, friends and family stepped in to help my husband and mom pack essentials in case the fire got too close. It was a scary reminder of how quickly a wildfire can turn your life upside down.

How to Stay Informed During Fire Season

Being prepared for fire season means staying informed. Here are some useful resources and tools to keep you updated:

PulsePoint App: This app connects you to local emergency services and allows you to receive real-time updates on fires, emergencies, and other critical events. You can customize notifications to track vegetation fires, natural disasters, and more.

Public Alerts: Signing up for Public Alerts allows you to receive text messages about local emergencies. It’s especially useful for receiving evacuation notices, which aren’t always sent through other channels.

NIFC.gov: The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) provides updates on wildfires across North America. It’s a great resource for tracking large-scale fires, their containment status, and their locations. However, it may not provide immediate updates on smaller, local fires, so it’s important to also use local sources like PulsePoint.

Preparing Your Home for Wildfire Season

Wildfires can strike without warning, so it’s important to prepare your home in advance. Here are some steps you can take to minimize the risk:

Create a Defensible Space: If you live in a rural area like I do, make sure there’s a defensible space around your home. This means clearing brush, dry grass, and other flammable materials from around your property. Ideally, you want at least 30 feet of cleared space around your home to slow the spread of fire.

Annual Home Inventory: One of the best ways to prepare for any disaster, including wildfires, is to keep an updated video inventory of your home. Walk through every room, opening cabinets and drawers, and document everything you own. Store this video in the cloud so that if your home is damaged or destroyed, you’ll have a detailed record for insurance purposes.

Keep Emergency Supplies: Have an emergency kit ready to go in case you need to evacuate quickly. This should include important documents, medications, clothes, and basic supplies like water, food, and flashlights. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the kit is and what to grab in case of an evacuation.

Air Quality Management: Invest in HEPA filters and humidifiers to manage indoor air quality if wildfire smoke is in the air. Boiling water on the stove can also help add humidity to the air, which makes smoke particles fall out of the air more quickly.

Evacuation Plan: Have a family evacuation plan in place. Identify where you’ll meet if you’re separated, and make sure everyone knows the evacuation routes from your home. Practice this plan regularly, especially if you have young children.

What to Do During a Wildfire

If you receive an evacuation notice, it’s crucial to act quickly. Don’t wait until the fire is close before you start packing. Here’s what you should do if a fire threatens your area:

Evacuate Early: Don’t wait for a mandatory evacuation order. If you’re in a Level 1 or 2 area, start packing and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Stay Informed: Keep monitoring local updates through PulsePoint or Public Alerts. Make sure your phone is charged and that you have access to real-time information about the fire’s progress.

Pack Essentials: In addition to your emergency kit, pack sentimental items like family photos, important documents, and anything that would be difficult or impossible to replace.

Protect Your Home: If time allows, wet down the area around your home and move flammable items like patio furniture or firewood away from the house.

Living in Southwest Washington offers countless advantages, from beautiful landscapes to a mild climate. But wildfire season is a reality that we all need to be prepared for. By taking proactive steps, staying informed, and having a plan in place, you can minimize the risks and keep your family safe.

Fire season isn’t something to fear, but it is something to respect. By learning from past experiences and using the resources available, you can be ready for whatever challenges fire season brings. Whether you're a long-time resident or considering moving to the area, knowing how to prepare for wildfires is essential for living safely in Southwest Washington.

Stay safe, stay informed, and as always, if you have any questions about living in this beautiful region, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Cassandra Marks, your guide to all things Southwest Washington!

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