How Leavenworth Citizens can take control of wildfire resilience

Leavenworth has a higher likelihood of wildfire than 99.9% of other towns in the U.S.A.

Seems lately like the ability to live in our area is under threat with insurance companies raising rates & dropping coverage, and the recent federal government freeze (possibly permanent) on funds going to wildfire prevention in our area.

All of this while Leavenworth remains one of the highest risk locations in the country for wildfire: The area between Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee is considered one of the highest risks (100th percentile) for a wildfire in the nation. Source: www.wildfirerisk.org

As someone who has spent the last 4 years enabling wildfire resilience in over 150 acres of forests around Leavenworth, as well as being a volunteer firefighter in Fire District 3, I wanted to offer some ideas to take some control over this risk ourselves. These range in time and money, from something as simple as writing your congressional representative to creating your own wildfire suppression system around your house.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Clear the 100’ (or less if applicable) around your house per www.firewise.org guidelines (see https://www.metau.net/post/a-simple-diagram-for-wildfire-resilience-around-your-house-in-chelan-county for diagram)

• Support your local fire department by donating (time or money) to their auxiliary or calling them to find out how you can help them. Our local fire districts are:

  • Chelan Fire District 3 (Leavenworth area including the Chumstick) www.chelanfd3.org

  • Chelan Fire District 9 (Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue, including the Plain area) www.lwfr.org

  • Chelan Fire District 6 (Peshastin, Monitor, Dryden up to Blewett Pass) www.chelanfd6.org

This helps in these ways:

• Training to maximize response effectiveness per the latest fire fighting research & methods.

• More personnel to respond to wildfires to protect homes when wildfire threatens, and to increase the odds of stopping its spread before it grows uncontrollable.

• New/latest fire fighting equipment which ensures that when the right tool is needed, it is available and in good working order.

• Support local prescribed burns performed by reputable groups including https://www.cascadiapba.org/ , Washington DNR, and Nature Conservancy. These people know fire and take its management very serious. The more of these that are completed, the lower the risk of fast uncontrollable fire spread, since these fires remove fuel from the forest floor during low fire risk periods of the year.

• Contact The Cascadia Conservation District https://cascadiacd.org/programs/wildfire-preparedness-and-recovery/ , Washington DNR https://www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-services/wildfire-resources and your local fire district to ask if they have any programs available for enabling your property to be more wildfire resilient.

• Write your congressional representatives to express your concern about challenges finding insurance and federal freezes on monies dedicated to wildfire prevention-

  • House of Representative- Kim Schrier (202) 224-3121

  • Senators- Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441 & Patti Murray (202) 224-2621

• If you have the time/money/motivation, these are some systems I’ve seen at some of my customer sites over the years:

  • Installation of a perimeter of sprinklers around the house, and on the roof, with backup power (generator) to power the pump if/when power is turned off during the fire. Alternatively-a gas powered water pump. This is something to be used when fire is approaching so that when it reaches your property, it doesn't destroy your house. Fire cannot burn wet fuel.

  • Maintain a 5-10' wide strip of mineral earth (dirt) downslope from your house (if your house is on a slope) to prevent fast movement of fire upslope to your house. This is called a fuel break and is like a "fire moat", preventing ground fire from spreading past it since fire cannot spread on dirt. This is not effective in preventing embers from blowing over onto the area near your house-just a slow moving ground fire. If possible, maintain this around your home at sensible locations, with an emphasis on high risk months including June-September. For more information go to: https://www.wlfw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/5_GBFS_Fuel-Breaks.pdf

  • Have a 500-1,000 gallon water tank (ideally upslope from the house to take advantage of gravity's pressure) with 1” fire hose with spray nozzle attached with a gas powered pump. This is used to either put out fire on your property, or to pre-wet the vegetation around your house so the risk of fire igniting your house is MUCH diminished. Important: If firefighters are able to stage at your house to protect it, this water is INVALUABLE as they may be able to use it in protecting your property.

  • Fire trucks (something like an F350 flat bed truck) with pumps, hose and tank on them. Essentially their own fire truck. See picture https://www.chelanfd3.org/brush-31/

Any questions or desire to brainstorm about your situation/goals-feel free to call me (Wes-owner Metau Resilient Forests) at 509.797.7975 or email at info@metau.net .