Thurston is under fire alert

The National Weather Service in Seattle has upgraded alert levels to Red Flag in Thurston County.

“Please be advised that NWS Seattle has rescinded the previously issued Fire Weather Watch and replaced it with a Red Flag Warning,” starting  at 11 a.m. Wednesday through 10 p.m. Thursday for Thurston County as well as  for Clallam, , Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason and Pierce, Counties, according to Thurston CountyEmergency Management Coordinator Vivian Eason earlier today.

In her social media post, Eason added that the status also includes Fire Weather Zones 650, 654, 655, and 657.

Fire Weather Zones 650 encompasses Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest; 654 is in the region west of Seattle, including Silverdale; 657 is in the Seattle-Tacoma area, while 655 is in Thurston.

Issued at 3:01 p.m. today, the red flag warning is meant to caution against “hot, dry and unstable conditions, which are in effect now.

The county’s email also included Fire Weather Zone 658 West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet and Fire Weather Zone 659 West Slopes of the Central Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet as areas under the red flag warning status.

Eason explained that a Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either imminent or occurring now, and any fires that develop will likely spread quickly.

“A dry and unstable air mass with warm temperatures can contribute to active fire behavior,” the statement added. “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.”

“Outdoor burning is not recommended,” according to the statement.