2015 Washington wildfires
| 2015 Washington wildfires | |
|---|---|
Smoke plume over the Wolverine Fire on August 4 | |
| Statistics | |
| Total fires | 1,541 |
| Total area | 1,005,423 acres (406,880 ha) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 4 |
| Damage | $253 million |
| Season | |
← 2014
2016 → | |
The 2015 wildfire season was the largest in Washington state history, with more than one million acres (400,000 ha; 1,600 sq mi) burning across the state from June to September. As many as 3,000 firefighters including 800 Washington National Guard members were deployed to fight the fires. The 17th Field Artillery Brigade of the United States Army also deployed 200 soldiers from Joint Base Lewis–McChord to help fight the fires.
On August 21, President Barack Obama declared the fires a federal emergency. Because of the enormous extent of the fire activity, for the first time in Washington state history, officials asked residents to volunteer to assist in fighting the wildfires. On August 24, the Washington Department of Natural Resources announced the Okanogan Complex fire had become the largest fire complex in Washington State history.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources called the season the "worst-ever" in the state's history.