Recognizing the need to prepare Kittitas County for the possibility of wildfires, the District, along with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and local Fire Districts are working together to educate landowners in the County. One of the tools we use is the Firewise USA® program. The National Fire Protection Associations's (NFPA) Firewise USA® program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. In Washington State, the program is administered through the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. "The national Firewise Communities program is a multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire - before a fire starts. The Firewise Communities approach emphasizes community responsibility for planning in the design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance."

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The Firewise USA® program enables communities in all parts of the United States to achieve a high level of protection against wildland/urban interface fire, as well as sustainable ecosystem balance. The program adapts especially well to small communities, developments and residential associations of all types. Firewise USA® incorporates efforts of homeowners, communities, federal and state agencies, and tribes. It includes landscaping, home construction and design, community planning, forest and land management. Currently, there are over 100 recognized communities in Washington State and many others across the state working toward the same goal. For information on the Firewise USA® sites in Washington, please visit https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA/Firewise-USA-Resources/Firewise-USA-sites.

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KCCD offers a free home risk assessment to help landowners recognize wildland/urban interface fire hazards in addition to incorporating Firewise planning into existing and developing homesites and communities. every year KCCD also offers cost-share opportunities for landowners to make improvements suggested by these assessments. Call us at (509) 925-3352 ext 202 for more information or e-mail Rose.

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Firewise USA Recognized Communities in Kittitas County

 

Banti Creek, Cle Elum , 2015

Buffalo Springs, Cle Elum, 2013

Goat Peak Ranch Home Owners Association, Cle Elum, 2016

Green Canyon, Ellensburg , 2015

Hidden Valley Terrace, Cle Elum, 2014

Hidden Valley Vistas/Hidden Valley Meadows, Cle Elum, 2012

Hyak, Snoqualmie Pass, 2016

Kachess Ridge, Easton, 2013

Kachess Village, Easton, 2013

Lauderdale Ridge HOA, Cle Elum, 2016

Liberty Mountain Ownership Association, Cle Elum, 2017

Morgan Creek, Ronald, 2015

Pine Loch Sun, Ronald, 2013

Ski Tur Valley, Snoqualmie Pass, 2014

Sky Meadows Ranch, Cle Elum, 2009

Sun Country, Cle Elum, 2012

Suncadia, Cle Elum, 2012

Sunlight Waters, Cle Elum , 2012

Swauk Pines, Cle Elum, 2013 Teanaway Terrace, Cle Elum, 2013

Upper Manastash, Ellensburg, 2017

Vistas at Cle Elum, Cle Elum, 2013

Wagon Wheel, Cle Elum, 2010