Medical Lake, Wash. – Today marks two years since the Gray and Oregon Road fires, two significant wildfires that impacted the Inland Northwest.
The Gray Fire, which began near Medical Lake, burned more than 10,000 acres and destroyed 259 structures.
Meanwhile, the Oregon Road Fire near Elk burned over 11,000 acres and destroyed 126 homes.
These fires have left a lasting impact not only on the landscape but also on fire data analysis in the region.
This year, the National Weather Service in Spokane introduced a new tool for Red Flag warnings called a PDS, or Particularly Dangerous Situation.
In developing criteria for this designation, they determined that August 18, 2023, would have been one of only three days in the past ten years to receive such a tag as temperatures reached triple digits over two days, drying out fire fuels to dangerous levels.
On August 18, a dry cold front moved in, creating a hazardous situation.
