Wildfire readiness and response

[bae]

First of all, here’s a great article about a really scary fire we had here a few weeks ago. It easily had the potential to take out 1/3 or more of the island, lots of homes, and a truly magnificent park:

https://www.islandssounder.com/news/wildland-fire-a-testament-to-island-community-cooperation-rapid-response-from-multiple-agencies-and-private-partners-contained-blaze-that-threatened-six-homes/

This is my fire department. I’ve been a firefighter/technical rescue specialist/marine rescue/hazmat person there for ~12 years now. Two years ago my arm was twisted and I reluctantly stood for election for Fire Commissioner, and the day I was sworn in also was elected the head of the Commission (primarily, I think, because I can read a budget spreadsheet). At that time, the department was in shambles - poor morale, toxic employees and management, a dysfunctional Board of Fire Commissioners, legal issues, union issues, financial mismanagement, etc. etc. In two years we have replaced the administrative and management staff almost entirely, including the entire Fire Commission. We got the citizens to pass proper funding levies, recruited a new team, and many members who had left in disgust at the previous situation have happily returned. We, as you can see from the response in this article, got our act together about arranging mutual aid agreements with nearby partners, public and private.

All of this work paid off in this single incident:

https://www.islandssounder.com/news/wildland-fire-a-testament-to-island-community-cooperation-rapid-response-from-multiple-agencies-and-private-partners-contained-blaze-that-threatened-six-homes/

[bae]

Two resources to help you think about preparing your own home to survive wildfire events:

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa

https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/community-wildfire-resilience-and-preparedness/wildfire-ready-neighbors

[catherine]

That's a great story... I love the "mutual aid" part. That takes work and trust.

[KayLR]

Yes, even excavation companies. That's great.

My little brother is also a fire commissioner, Bae, in SW WA. He did wildland fighting for a good while then air-to-ground command during the season along with the typical district fire calls. Now retired from his dept., but has a role as district commissioner.

Western Washington is indeed having its share of fire. We're nearest the Bear Gulch one, and watching the one down in the Gorge (Burdoin) because that's our old stomping ground.

[KayLR]

Two resources to help you think about preparing your own home to survive wildfire events:

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa

https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/community-wildfire-resilience-and-preparedness/wildfire-ready-neighbors

These are nice resources, thank you. Going out now to address some buckets of dry weeds by the home exterior.

[SiouzQ.]

Good article and it really goes to show how much cooporation is key. I live in an area that relies on volunteer firefighters. The biggest problem is finding younger volunteers (many on the crew are much older but I think they are having some success in recruiting some of the younger folk). If I was 30 years younger and fit I think I would have liked to do that.

[Tradd]

Great article. Wildfire is not a current issue here in the NW burbs of Chicago. There is a lot of open land that is mostly forest preserves, owned by the county. If it got very, VERY dry, we might have issues, but nothing right now.

[Tradd]

The NY Times Wirecutter product review section had a big article on two staffers whose homes both survived and were destroyed in the January LA fires. Talks about what they did, etc. Recommendations for things to do/products. Seemed like a lot of good ideas for this non-wildfire area resident.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/la-wildfire-recovery/