Wildfire season is here, be prepared for it

It’s going to be another hot and dry summer for the West Plains, which means there are plenty of chances for wildfires in the area.

It’s late June and we’ve already seen some wildfires in the region, including last week’s 145-acre blaze at Fish Lake, east of Cheney. There have been 306 wildfires this year, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Washington has already taken some precautions to address the wildfire season. Earlier this month, DNR imposed a burn ban on DNR-protected lands east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains that will run until Sept. 30. The burn ban applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under DNR fire protection, with the exception of recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal and other campgrounds. On June 22, state officials expanded the burn ban to west of the Cascades.

Locally, Spokane County issued a burn ban for any currently unauthorized “open burning” and recreational burning within the unincorporated areas of the county. Citizens may still use manufactured portable outdoor fireplaces, barbecues, patio warmers and other devices.

We understand the reasoning for these restrictions. Washington is coming off its biggest fire season on record with 897 fires in DNR forested land including the Carlton Complex Fire, the largest wildfire in state history which burned more than 250,000 acres. Close to our region, there was the Watermelon Hill Fire, which burned up to 13,000 acres, 7 miles southwest of Cheney. According to DNR statistics, wildfires have consumed more than 1 million acres of Washington’s landscape since 2009.

In addition to destroying lands, wildfires can take a toll on residents who live in rural, forested areas. Although there is no way to predict wildfires, residents can take measures to prevent and prepare for them.

The Washington State Fire Marshal recommends that homeowners create a defensible space of no less than 30 feet around their entire home. Residents should trim trees, clean their roof and gutters regularly, and keep combustibles such as firewood, fuel and other debris away from structures.

Property owners should consider buying fire insurance coverage for their homes.

According to Kevin Ottosen, of Cheney’s Allstate branch, insurance offices use a 10-category ranking of public fire protection in cities and towns. A municipality is ranked in one of the categories by receiving deficiency points for failing to meet established standards under categories such as water supply, proximity of fire department, fire service communications, fire safety control, climate, and divergence between fire department and water supply.

According to Ottosen, the city of Cheney is in a Town Class 5 while homes in rural areas outside of the city range from 8-10.

Landowners who have paid their forest fire protection fees are entitled to DNR wildfire suppression services. Spokane County Fire District 3 can also perform a pre-assessment on homes.

Residents can sign up for Alert Spokane, Spokane County’s warning system, an emergency response system to notify homes and businesses at risk with specific information about an emergency event. Citizens will only be called when associated addresses will be impacted by an emergency.

In the event of a wildfire, residents should evacuate if they are advised to do so. For residents who have time to prepare before evacuation, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends they arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative’s home outside the threatened area. They should also close all doors, vents, windows and other openings to prevent a draft, as well as remove flammable drapes and curtains. Once they leave the area, they should provide access for emergency vehicles.

They should wear protective clothing when outside – sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a handkerchief to protect their face.

During an emergency, residents should follow directions given by emergency personnel or by broadcast radio/television. They should also keep away from a threatened area during a wildfire as it can be a safety issue for emergency personnel.

State experts are predicting that dryer weather and lightning storms in July and August could contribute to a harsher wildfire season. Wildfires are scary but with some preparation, residents can hopefully mitigate some of the damage the blazes bring.