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The Jolly Mountain fire was a wildfire in Wenatchee National Forest, Kittitas County, Washington, that began with lightning strikes August 11, 2017 and burned for over three months.[2][1] Fires burned in the upper reaches of the Teanaway River a few miles east of Cle Elum Lake.[3]
| Jolly Mountain Fire | |
|---|---|
 Fire as seen from government firefighting aircraft on August 30, 2017 | |
| Date(s) | Ignited: August 11, 2017 State of Emergency: August 29 Evacuations: August 31, 2017 EOC activation: September 2, 2017 100% contained: November 2, 2017 |
| Location | Wenatchee National Forest Kittitas County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47.34°N 121.04°W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 36,808 acres (14,896 ha) as of November 2, 2017[1] |
| Land use | Forest and residential |
| Impacts | |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Map | |
  Location of fire in Washington | |
| Season | |
← 2016
2018 → | |
By August 18, the fire was over 500 acres and the state's Teanaway Community Forest was closed in response.[4]
On August 24, the fire stood at over 1,700 acres and public meetings were held to discuss area closures and possible future evacuations.[5] By August 28, the fire was over 5,000 acres,[6] and smoke was noticeable in the Seattle metropolitan area about 100 kilometers away.[7][8]
On August 29, Kittitas County declared a state of emergency,[9] and pyrocumulus clouds were visible on satellite images of the Cascades.[10] On the same day, the Washington Military Department's Emergency Operation Center at Camp Murray was activated in response to Jolly Mountain.[11] Smoke continued to affect visibility and air quality in Seattle on August 30, and air quality in Kittitas County was officially termed "unhealthy".[12][13] The fire grew rapidly August 30–31 due to winds.[6]
By August 31, the fire stood at over 9,000 acres and was zero percent contained; local government near the city of Cle Elum began ordering evacuations of over 150 homes.[14][15] On September 2, at over 14,500 acres, the fire was deemed to be too big for local response and authority was transferred to the Washington State Patrol's Fire Protection Bureau[broken anchor].[16] Due to the Jolly Mountain event and the slightly larger Norse Peak fire, air quality in Wenatchee and Yakima was "very unhealthy" and outdoor sports events canceled.[17][18]
On September 4, the fire stood at just under 21,000 acres,[19] the city of Ellensburg declared a state of emergency, Cle Elum's air quality was deemed "dangerous" by the county,[20] and contingency plans to evacuate Cle Elum by turning State Route 10 into a one-way avenue were discussed.[21] On September 5, skies were darkened and ash fell on Seattle "like snow".[22]
By September 20, the beginnings of the rainy fall season began to abate the fires and a few days went by with zero new acres burned and greatly improved air quality except in the immediate Cle Elum area.[23]
On September 29, with the fire 50% contained, all evacuation orders were canceled.[24][25]
By November 2, the fire was 100% contained but still burning.[2][1]
The fire affected an endangered species, the northern spotted owl.[26]
