Chelan County Commends Federal Firefighting Efforts

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  On Sept. 8, the Chelan County Board of Commissioners voted to send a letter to three U. S. lawmakers“On Sept. 8, the Board of County Commissioners voted to send a letter to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, and U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier with recommendations and requests related to wildfire firefighting and forest management in Chelan County.”
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  The letter requests improved forest management“Improved forest management and treatments: Federal land ownership in Chelan County is 78%, including Bureau of Land Management, National Parks Service, and US Forest Service (USFS) lands. The USFS lands alone comprise over 70% of the county. Those lands have massive fuel treatment needs. We believe the most effective approach to reducing the spread of future wildfires involves long-term and consistent proactive management of forests and fuel conditions. The level of investment in fuel treatments must be many-fold greater than what it is and actually more than that of suppression in order to overtake the current work of damaging wildfires. Congress must drastically increase the pace, scale, and investments in these forest treatments, removing the overabundance of smaller trees, clearing underbrush, and applying prescribed fire following the strategic thinning. To accomplish this work, efficient sawmilling is necessary and must be incentivized in these fire-prone areas. Congress must also authorize the USFS to supply these removed materials to purchasers. Employing people to do this work is good for our economy, beneficial for our natural resources, and safer for communities. Experts believe it is also the only option that will prove successful over the long term.”
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  The letter requests increased firefighting personnel“Increase air assets and firefighting personnel for initial attacks: Until our landscapes can accept active fire, something they used to withstand, a swift and overwhelming initial attack is much needed soon after wildfires start. This is best accomplished immediately and no later than the first 24 hours. Simply put, the western United States – especially Washington – needs more air resources for initial attack along with trained fulltime and rapidly-deployed firefighting personnel.”
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  The letter follows a wildfire season where Chelan County experienced the largest wildfire in Washington state“This summer has been an especially difficult wildfire year, with Chelan County being the site of the largest wildfire in the state.”
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  The letter states that federal land ownership in Chelan County is 78%“Federal land ownership in Chelan County is 78%, including Bureau of Land Management, National Parks Service, and US Forest Service (USFS) lands.”
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  U. S. Forest Service lands make up over 70% of the county“The USFS lands alone comprise over 70% of the county.”
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  Commissioners argue that current fuel treatment investments are insufficient“The level of investment in fuel treatments must be many-fold greater than what it is and actually more than that of suppression in order to overtake the current work of damaging wildfires.”
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  Commissioners call for Congress to drastically increase funding for forest thinning“Congress must drastically increase the pace, scale, and investments in these forest treatments, removing the overabundance of smaller trees, clearing underbrush, and applying prescribed fire following the strategic thinning.”
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  Commissioners call for Congress to drastically increase funding for prescribed burns“Congress must drastically increase the pace, scale, and investments in these forest treatments, removing the overabundance of smaller trees, clearing underbrush, and applying prescribed fire following the strategic thinning.”
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  Commissioners call for Congress to drastically increase funding for sawmilling in fire-prone areas“To accomplish this work, efficient sawmilling is necessary and must be incentivized in these fire-prone areas. Congress must also authorize the USFS to supply these removed materials to purchasers.”
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  Commissioners urge faster initial wildfire response within 24 hours“Until our landscapes can accept active fire, something they used to withstand, a swift and overwhelming initial attack is much needed soon after wildfires start. This is best accomplished immediately and no later than the first 24 hours.”
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  Commissioners urge postfire tree removal within two years to prevent future fire hazards“Immediately after wildfires, the dead trees must also be removed within the first year or two so their value to a purchaser remains.”
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  The commissioners' request is part of long-term recovery efforts following the severe fire season“The impacts to our communities, natural resources, and economy have been severe and will require long-term recovery.”
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  The goal of the commissioners' request is to reduce future wildfire risks“The level of investment in fuel treatments must be many-fold greater than what it is and actually more than that of suppression in order to overtake the current work of damaging wildfires. Congress must drastically increase the pace, scale, and investments in these forest treatments, removing the overabundance of smaller trees, clearing underbrush, and applying prescribed fire following the strategic thinning.”
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  The goal of the commissioners' request is to protect communitiesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.