The hot, dry weather that we have been experiencing this summer, as well as in recent summers, has increased our susceptibility to wildfire. The Snohomish County Fire Marshal issued a burn ban in June and then recently upgraded the burn ban to Stage 2, to include all recreational fires. While most wildfires that have received publicity have been occurring in arid areas such as eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, California and eastern British Columbia, the dry weather has dried out the vegetation on the western slopes of the Cascades, increasing the potential for wildfire in portions of the Puget Sound region.
The highest risk is in eastern Snohomish County with
its forests and mountainous terrain. While most of this area has a small
population, over the years more and more people have built their homes in
eastern Snohomish County as they seek the benefits of the countryside and less
expensive places to live. Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue (SRFR), formerly
Fire District 7, views the following areas as most susceptible to wildfire:
·
Many south facing slopes and high ground east
of Arlington to Darington.
·
Along the Mountain Loop Highway east of
Verlot.
·
In the high ground south of Sultan.
·
Much of the high ground above U.S. 2, from
Gold Bar, east to Index and then to the county line near Baring.
·
Much of the South Fork Stillaguamish River
drainage.
·
High ground southeast of Monroe near the
county line.
Fire districts such as SRFR, deploy specialized wildland
brush vehicles and tenders to rapidly attack wildfires while they are small,
before they can grow to damage many acres of trees, vegetation, and houses that
might be in the area.
However, wildfire crews can become stretched very
quickly in a wildfire situation. Homeowners can help by creating a “defensible
space” around their homes that will make it possible for firefighters to suppress
a fire. This basically means removing anything that can fuel a fire such as
vegetation or dead matter.
Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue recommends that
homeowners take the following actions:
·
Complete the Homeowner’s Checklist on How
to Make Your Home Fire Safe- https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/64490/Fire-Safety-DefensibleSpaceBrochure-1
·
Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
·
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away
from your home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles,
dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
·
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach
any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers
with water.
·
Review your homeowner’s insurance policy
and also prepare/update a list of your home’s contents.
SRFR also recommends:
·
Sign up for the Snohomish County
SnoCoAlert Public Warning System- https://snohomishcountywa.gov/620/Public-Alert-Resources
·
If you see a wildfire and haven’t received
evacuation orders yet, call 9-1-1. Don’t assume that someone else has already
called.
·
If ordered to evacuate during a wildfire,
do it immediately- make sure and tell someone where you are going and when you
have arrived.
·
If you or someone you are with has been
burned, call 9-1-1 or seek help immediately; cool and cover burns to reduce chance
of further injury or infection.
Fire Weather Watch
If the National Weather Service issues a “Fire Weather
Watch” (dangerous fire weather conditions are possible over the next 12 to 72
hours) take the following steps:
·
Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the
latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
·
Know where to go. If you are ordered to
evacuate, know the route to take and have a plan of where you will go. Check-in
with your friends and family.
·
Keep your car fueled, in good condition,
and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.
Taking precautions to protect your property from wildfire
has become more important with the warmer, drier spring, summer, and fall months.
Your efforts may not only protect your property from fire, but also may help
firefighters protect your property from any wildfire that is in your area.
For more details about how to protect your home from
wildfire, check out the following resources,
The Seattle Times:
Snohomish County, Department of Emergency Management:
https://snohomishcountywa.gov/3629/Wildfire-Preparedness
Snohomish County Hazards (click on “Wildfire” tab for
map of areas with most wildfire danger):
https://snoco-gis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8924ce09ff58487ea905e63210ee7cdf
National Fire Protection Association- Firewise:
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA
Fire Adapted Communities:
Washington State Department of Natural Resources:
https://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_fire_defend_home_from_wildfire.pdf
American Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/wildfire.html
ready.gov:
https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue:
www.srfr.org/preparedness_education/home_education_lessons/lesson-details.cfm?record_id=10
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