SNOHOMISH COUNTY, APRIL 22: 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 in preparation for wildfire season.
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.
Wildland fire season in Snohomish County historically has stretched from early July through the rains of fall, according to the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.
The upcoming 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.
“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,” Lucia Schmit, the County’s director of Emergency Management said.
Warmer, drier weather has brought change in fire frequency and intensity. The 2022 Bolt Creek Fire 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.
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.
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.
Based on a press release from the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Managment.
