Photos: Sunsets and fires

Saturday evening at Richmond Beach
just after the sun went down
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Since July 31, the State Fire Marshall has sent information about these named fires in the state of Washington, the last two on Sunday.

• North Touchet Fire - Columbia county
• Black Rock fire - Grant county
• South Ward Gap fire - Benton county
• Road 10 fire - Grant county
• Snake River fire - Whitman and Garfield counties
• Lower Crab Creek fire - Grant county
• Fletcher Road fire - Columbia and Walla Walla counties
• Palouse Falls fire - Franklin county
• Wellesley Fire - Spokane county
• Yale fire - Spokane county
• Hart fire - Lincoln county

These are fires where the state has sent crews to help local fire fighters. There may be other, less explosive fires that are being successfully managed by local crews.

Just as the sun was going behind the mountains
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Fires like these are devastating when they get near human habitations, farm animals, and roads. More remote fires are sometimes left to burn themselves out.

There are currently four small, lightning-caused fires burning in the Olympic National Park wilderness that have been burning since May. Although there is no threat to visitor safety or facilities at this time, smoke may be visible.

Particles from fires go up into the atmosphere, filter the sun, and create dramatic and beautiful sunsets for us.