Jolly Mountain Fire

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.[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]

• 
  Satellite image of Washington showing active fires in the Cascade Mountains
• 
  Ground-level panorama of normal conditions
• 
  Ground-level panorama of fire
• 
  From government firefighting aircraft on August 30
• 
  Ash on an outdoor table near Seattle, September 5

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jolly Mountain Fire.

• Official public information website (Facebook)