137 years after the Great Seattle Fire, could it happen again after another warm, dry summer?

As we mark 137 years since Seattle’s devastating 1889 Great Fire, meteorologists warn that warmer, drier conditions forecast for Western Washington this summer could increase wildfire risks across the region. With mountain snowpack at 50% of average, below-normal rainfall, and seasonal forecasts favoring warm, dry weather through September, communities including those in South King County face potential wildfire threats. Residents can prepare now by creating defensible space around homes, trimming vegetation, and clearing gutters.