Report: Wildfires the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Chelan County
When big wildfires sweep through Chelan County, they typically burn through thousands of acres of forest and grasslands — sometimes consuming structures along the way, putting people in harm’s way, and generating enough smoke to put some people’s health at risk.
But a less obvious negative also occurs: the massive plumes of smoke contain enough carbon pollution to dwarf all other sources of greenhouse gases generated in the county, according to a recently completed Chelan County greenhouse gas emissions inventory (PDF).
In 2023, wildfires released 1.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, compared to 337,000 metric tons of CO2 from building energy emissions and 385,000 metric tons of CO2 from transportation emissions, the county inventory found.
In 2022 alone, wildfire emissions in Chelan County totaled 2.2 million metric tons of CO2, which is equivalent to the annual emissions from more than 385,000 gas-powered cars.
Chelan County Natural Resources, in partnership with Sustainable NCW and Our Valley Our Future, hired the consulting firm Parametrix to conduct the study. The analysis considered all significant emissions being generated within the geographic boundaries of Chelan County, including the City of Wenatchee (which also conducted its own emissions inventory).
Parametrix determined fuel density and vegetation type strongly influence wildfire emissions. High-intensity fires — such as the 2017 Jack Creek Fire, 2021 Nason Ridge Fire, and the 2023 Airplane Lake fire — burned through dense, overstocked fuels, and significant forest canopy, emitting CO2 that ranged from 147 to 213 metric tons per acre. In contrast, the 2021 Red Apple fire burned through lighter fuels and grassy foothills, producing 16 metric tons of CO2 per acre.
For years, the idea has been that forests can act as an important “carbon sink,” an area that absorbs more carbon than it emits. But as forest fires become larger and happen more often, they emit more carbon stored in the trunks, branches and leaves of their trees as well as in the soil, and reabsorption is no longer assured.
In 2021, emissions from Chelan County wildfires were equivalent to about 7.3 percent of all forest carbon sequestration in Washington state that year. Between 2016 and 2024, average annual emissions in the county equated to approximately 6.4 percent of annual forest carbon sequestration in the state.
“High-severity wildfires release large volumes of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, eroding the long-term climate mitigation value of forests and rangelands,” the Chelan County greenhouse gas emissions report states. “These dynamics are relevant not only to greenhouse gas accounting but also to active
management strategies such as forest thinning, prescribed fire, and biomass utilization — all of which aim to reduce catastrophic fire risk while preserving or enhancing long-term carbon outcomes.”
The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
PLEASE NOTE: FTP browsing is no longer supported on the latest browsers, please refer below to acccess our FTP content.
Popular Browsers
Supported
Microsoft Edge
NO
Google Chrome
NO
Safari
NO
Internet Explorer 11
YES
Mozilla Firefox
YES
Opera
YES
By clicking continue, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to this disclaimer.
The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
PLEASE NOTE: FTP browsing is no longer supported on the latest browsers, please refer below to acccess our FTP content.
Popular Browsers
Supported
Microsoft Edge
NO
Google Chrome
NO
Safari
NO
Internet Explorer 11
YES
Mozilla Firefox
YES
Opera
YES
By clicking continue, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to this disclaimer.
The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
PLEASE NOTE: FTP browsing is no longer supported on the latest browsers, please refer below to acccess our FTP content.
Popular Browsers
Supported
Microsoft Edge
NO
Google Chrome
NO
Safari
NO
Internet Explorer 11
YES
Mozilla Firefox
YES
Opera
YES
By clicking continue, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to this disclaimer.
The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
By clicking continue, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to this disclaimer.
The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
By clicking continue, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to this disclaimer.
The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.
The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.