EVERETT—The Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management has been working with partners for more than a year on a plan to help people and businesses better adapt to rising wildfire risks.
A pair of open house-style meetings in May will offer opportunities to learn more about Snohomish County’s first-ever Community Wildfire Protection Plan as well as strategies for living safer amid the trees.
“Here’s a chance to find out how to keep your family, pets and livestock prepared for wildfires and to better understand what to do if you receive notice to evacuate,” said Lucia Schmit, the County’s director of Emergency Management.
The meetings are designed to make it easy to talk with first responders, land managers and conservation agencies about options for better preparing homes, property and people for wildfire risks. Residents are encouraged to show up anytime between 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the locations and dates below:
- Thursday, May 15, Stillaguamish Conference Room, City of Arlington Public Works Office, 154 W Cox Ave., Arlington, WA 98223
- Thursday, May 22, Startup Event Center, 14315 366th Ave. SE, Startup, WA 98293
A team at Emergency Management has been working with area firefighters, state and federal agencies, local tribes, nonprofits, residents and landowners to comprehensively examine wildfire protection needs. Roughly 130,000 people in the county live in the wildland urban interface, the places where houses, farms and businesses mix in with forestlands. That means more than 15% of the county’s population lives in areas where wildfire protection challenges are believed greatest.
The May meetings will feature maps with more information about wildfire risk. County staff also will be present to discuss the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the strategies identified for enhancing preparedness and improving forest health.
The wildland fire season in Snohomish County historically has stretched from early July through the rains of fall. Warmer, drier weather has brought change in fire frequency and intensity. The 2022 Bolt Creek Fire, for example, scorched more than 14,700 acres across east King and Snohomish counties. It forced multiple safety closures that blocked U.S. 2 and unleashed smoke that repeatedly degraded air quality to dangerous levels across much of the community.
Learn more about the Community Wildfire Protection Plan project: www.bit.ly/SnoCo_CWPP
Source: Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
