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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

25 years ago, firefighters and first responders ran toward the flames to save as many lives as they could when the World Trade Center towers collapsed and our world changed forever.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I am heartbroken to learn of the deaths of three firefighters who lost their lives over the weekend while fighting fires in Utah and Oregon. My thoughts are with their families, friends, and fellow crew members.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

More dry, windy weather is going to make things harder for our firefighters this weekend. Everyone in Washington needs to be smart and safe. Don’t be the spark that sets off another catastrophe. We all need to work together to weather this storm.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

We’re ramping up for another tough weekend of wildfire weather. With more than 7,500 people helping fight fires across Washington, any new spark could be even more devastating for our state.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

As some evacuation levels begin to lower and people return home, I'm happy to report our teams have established containment lines around the perimeters of the Spokane Area Fires and are attacking hot spots and mopping up areas still burning.

Image of air support around the Spokane Area Fires. Source: InciWeb

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Thank you @governorferguson.bsky.social for the much needed emergency declaration and statewide burn ban. Fire conditions are extreme and we still have a long way to go this fire season. We all have a role to play and right now that role is not being the next spark.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

My number one priority for over a year was restoring the $60 million in fire funding the legislature cut last year. I traveled the state, speaking with legislators and community groups, visiting fire camps and talking to firefighters who rely on funding from DNR.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Today is Native American Heritage Day. Over the past year - my first as Commissioner of Public Lands - I have had the privilege to work more closely with Tribal nations than ever, meeting with 21 tribes and forging close partnerships on a wide variety of endeavors.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Today, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the folks at @wadnr.bsky.social, and I want to wish all Washingtonians a happy and safe holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Ten years ago, I married the love of my life - thanks in part to the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v Hodges. This weekend, the court upheld that historic decision and reaffirmed that the principles of equality, fairness, and justice still mean something.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

I am aware of a criminal enforcement action taken against a federal subcontractor at the Bear Gulch Fire, and also understand that two employees of this company were subsequently detained by federal immigration officials.

A quote from Dave Upthegrove saying: "The Trump administration’s crude and inhumane approach to immigration enforcement has intentionally and unnecessarily stoked fear and mistrust among members of the public—including firefighters putting their lives on the line to protect our State."

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

On Tuesday, we embarked on an exciting, new journey for the future of our forests - conserving 77,000 acres of structurally complex forests and 100 percent of our older forests.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Big thanks to the firefighters who caught multiple fires along I-90 the last couple days. Thanks to the investments in wildfire response and prevention from House Bill 1168, our crews were able to work quickly along local firefighters to catch a number of fires that could have taken off quickly.

Wildland firefighters look up as water is dropped from a helicopter on a hotspot.

Chelan fire support parked along I-90 working to contain a recently sparked fire.

A wildfire plane just after passing over the active wildfire.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Just last week I visited Okanogan County and our wildfire partners there, to discuss how wildfire impacts their community. I am saddened to see that already they are now battling the Greenacres Fire, burning just 5 miles north of Omak.

A photo of two wildland firefighters working with a hose from a small tank truck to put out a hot spot on a utility pole. Thank you to the Okanogan County PUD for sharing this photo of the efforts happening there.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Tonight I had the honor of throwing the first pitch for the Tacoma Rainiers Pride Night as Washington's first out LGBTQ+ statewide executive. While Pride Month is over, the outdoors are a safe space for all year-round. Today was a celebration of exactly that.

A photo of the video board at Cheney Stadium displaying Pride Night artwork

A photo of Commissioner Upthegrove preparing to throw the first pitch. Readying the ball in his glove, with "Pride Night" displayed on the scoreboard behind him.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

A guiding value for all of us participating in debates about forest management should be respect. A diversity of views in a democracy is healthy. I welcome debate about forest management-- it's why I ran for Commissioner.

An image that reads "A guiding value for all of us participating in debates about forest management should be respect. A diversity of views in a democracy is healthy. I welcome debate about forest management-- it's why I ran for Commissioner.

But when protestors string cable across roads and sit in trees with dangerous booby traps - they are putting the health, safety and lives of the public—including my employees—at risk. Their actions are dangerous, reckless, and counterproductive.

I'd like to thank our law enforcement and Olympic Region teams for their professionalism on behalf of the public during this situation. Our focus right now is simply on the safety of everyone involved."

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

I am proud to say that... 1. I kept my first fire under 10 acres 💪 2. I learned what can and cannot be microwaved 😅

The Commissioner shrugging in front of an Olympia Fire Department truck which is parked in front of the Natural Resources building.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove @daveupthegrovecpl.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Today, I, Dave Upthegrove, stood in our state’s Capitol, raised my hand in the air, and was sworn in as Washington’s 15th Commissioner of Public Lands.

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