Severe Weather History


Washington Wildfire History: 539 Recorded Events

539

Recorded events

14

Counties affected

8

Direct deaths

$2.1B

Property damage

Washington wildfire history: 539 recorded events across 14 counties between 1997 and 2025.

Decade by decade

Washington wildfire history by decade

Washington wildfire history: recorded events per decade
Washington wildfire history: recorded events per decade

The 1990s are the busiest decade on record with 19 reported wildfire events across Washington. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most wildfire events in Washington

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Okanogan County84$5.5M1998–2003
#2Yakima County50$02000–2003
#3Kittitas County40$02003–2003
#4Stevens County30$450K1997–1999
#5Benton County30$01997–2002
#6Chelan County30$10.2M1998–2001
#7Walla Walla County20$02002–2003
#8Whitman County20$120K1998–1998
#9Klickitat County20$01998–1998
#10Lincoln County20$9K1998–1998
#11Ferry County10$50K1998–1998
#12Adams County10$60K1998–1998
#13Pacific County10$01998–1998
#14Spokane County10$800K1997–1997
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest wildfire events in Washington

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Jul 10, 2001Okanogan County—44
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Washington · Wildfire across the U.S.