Fruit tree fire blight hits county with wet spring

Fire blight, a disease that affects apple, pear and other fruit trees, has taken a harsh toll this year due to an unusually wet spring. The disease thrives during growing seasons with particularly high precipitation and humidity, according to a WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension report.

"It's been the perfect storm for fire blight development," said Stephen Bishop, owner of Bishops' Orchard in Garfield.

Bishop said the best way he has found to ward off the disease is by planting tree varieties that are less susceptible to infection.

"You can wring your hands all you want, but we can live wi...