When Bill Austin started as a fire lookout, he was one of three watching over the Methow Valley. Today he's the last one.

After over a century of fire suppression, the U.S. Forest Service is using prescribed burns as a way to reduce the risk of megafires.

A visit to the site of the Norse Peak fire — the worst in Western Washington since the Yacolt Burn of 1902 — reveals both the promise and limits of human forest management.

Now a staple in combating wildfires across the West, barnstormers and foresters developed one of the most elite firefighting programs here in Washington. 

Historically, wildfire has been a frequent visitor west of the Cascades.

Lake Union from the Space Needle observation deck on Monday, August 20, 2018 in Seattle. Haze from wildfires caused a decrease in air quality in the area. (Photo by Sarah Hoffman/Crosscut)

The novel radiation treatment was developed for animals in the Tri-Cities. Scientists hope to begin human clinical trials in the near future.

For artists in residence at the dump, King County's castoffs are creative fodder.

Midnite madness for the new Margaret Atwood book, Wooden boats afloat in Port Townsend, First Thursday art walk picks, and more cultural must-sees.

Meet the six disrupters stepping up, speaking out and making a difference.

A new documentary explores the artistic connection between two Seattle icons.

Just 9% of the ancient, old growth forest is protected. With industry closing in, advocates are raising the alarm.

Experts say a comparatively cool, wet summer kept the megafires of recent years out of most of the state. But we aren’t out of the woods yet.

Humans on the West Coast have decimated estuaries. Climate change could make it worse.

In the latest Crosscut/Elway Poll, Democrats far outnumber Republicans. It wasn’t always like this.