SEATTLE — With warm, dry conditions throughout July, the Seattle Fire Department said it has responded to nearly 200 brush fires since the beginning of the month.
Many of those fires could have been sparked by improperly discarded cigarette butts, a spokesperson said.
"With it being dry and sometimes windy along the major roadways, a brush fire can spread quickly -even faster than some people can run," said David Cuerpo. "Our resources are stretched a little thinner than usual, but we have been able to respond in a timely manner."
Cuerpo said a handful of firefighters have been deployed to assist in fighting wildfires throughout Washington and Oregon.
On Saturday, crews responded to the 3300 block of Airport Way near the Rainier building for a report of a brush fire, which spread to another nearby building.
Nobody was hurt.
While the department anticipates these incidents each summer, both the weather and human behavior has made this month especially challenging, Cuerpo said.
"It's because of these dry, warm conditions along with people improperly discarding smoke materials," he told KING 5.
Cuerpo also said brush fires along roadways can be caused by hanging chains and other pieces of metal from vehicles dragging along the pavement, creating sparks that fly into vegetation.
He stressed the importance of putting cigarettes out, tightening loose metal objects on vehicles and keeping potential hazards like vegetation and grills at least ten feet away from structures.