South Snohomish County Crime Watch Hot Sheet: WILDFIRES

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:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/landmark-climate-report-promises-massive-effects-for-western-u-s-seattle/?utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning+Brief+8-9-2021_8_9_2021&utm_term=Active%20subscriber

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:

https://fireadapted.org/

Washington State Department of Natural Resources: