Rangers step up patrols to protect against suspicious fires in Riverside State Park

SPOKANE, Wash. — Park rangers at Riverside State Park are working overtime to keep your family safe as more than a dozen suspicious fires have ignited in the popular recreation area since mid-summer.

The rise in fires has forced evacuations, filled the park with smoke and cut short family outings during peak summer season. Park rangers said most of the fires are believed to have been set intentionally.

“The vast majority of those have been under suspicious circumstances,” said Justin Krogstad, area manager for Washington State Parks.

The unprecedented fire activity has taken a serious toll on both park visitors and the rangers tasked with protecting them. Krogstad, who has nearly 10 years of experience with state parks, said he has never encountered anything like the current situation.

“Just the sheer amount of fires has really been a lot,” Krogstad said. “Washington State Parks is not set up or staffed to be a 24-hour law enforcement operation. That being said, most of these fires have occurred very late, so our staff has adjusted their hours.”

The situation is complicated by staffing challenges that have stretched the park’s limited resources even thinner.

“Like all law enforcement agencies nationwide, we are struggling to find and fill positions. We are short multiple positions right now. So, we’re doing the best we can with the staff that we have,” Krogstad said.

To address the crisis, park management has been forced to pull resources from hospitality and education to bolster enforcement efforts.

“We have to remove staff from those areas, like doing customer service, doing visitor safety, [and have them] respond to these fires and assist,” Krogstad said.

Park officials are also asking visitors to become partners in prevention efforts. Park rangers said if you’re in the park and see something, say something.

“Right now it’s all hands on deck in trying to figure out what’s going on and who’s doing this,” Krogstad said.