Red Flag Warning Issued For Pierce County

GIG HARBOR, WA — The National Weather Service has upgraded its Fire Weather Watch into a Red Flag Warning for Pierce County.

A Red Flag Warning means conditions have become hot, dry, and unstable — primed for wildfires. In an effort to tamp down on loose fires, the county prohibits all outdoor burning during the event. That includes all recreational and cooking fires, except for gas grills.

As the National Weather Service explains, a Red Flag Warning means that fire weather conditions are critical, and an active fires are likely to spread quickly.

"A dry and very unstable air mass with warm temperatures can contribute to active fire behavior," the agency said. "In western Washington, significant growth on existing fires takes
place under such conditions. If a fire were to begin, air quality may diminish in the surrounding area."

The red flag event went into effect at 11 a.m. Thursday, and will remain in place through 10 p.m. Friday. Both are expected to be the hottest days of the week, with temperatures growing to the upper 90s, near 100 degrees. By Saturday, temperatures should cool somewhat, lessening the chance for wildfires.

To see how much danger the heat and ongoing drought currently pose, you only have to look to South Hill. Wednesday afternoon, a power line hit the ground along South Hill's 160th St. E, sparking a wildfire that rapidly spread to consume more than 30 acres of land. Firefighters worked overnight on the blaze and now have it largely contained, but say they don't need a repeat of the event.

So lay off the outdoor burning, at least until Saturday, and try not to over-exert yourself in the heat.