Chelan County Commission Seeks Federal Help on Wildfire Response

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  Chelan County Commissioners voted September 8 to send a letter to federal 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 urges enhanced wildfire management and firefighting resourcesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Chelan County experienced the largest wildfire in Washington state this summer“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 calls for federal action to increase forest fuel treatments“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 letter calls for federal action to increase air assets“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 calls for federal action to increase postfire restoration“Postfire mitigation and restoration: A major challenge of living in fire-prone areas is the impact large-scale wildfires have in the years after an event, both economically and on the landscape. Postfire, the dead and downed trees are still a major problem. They fall down and dry out, adding new fuel to the ground for the next fire and creating additional hazards. Immediately after wildfires, the dead trees must also be removed within the first year or two so their value to a purchaser remains. This will help avoid exacerbating future impacts. After postfire restorative treatments, severely burned areas must be replanted at densities that properly anticipate future fires and how they would naturally burn in the landscape.”
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  Commissioners note that 78% of county land is federally managed“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 alone make up over 70% of the county“The USFS lands alone comprise over 70% of the county.”
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  The letter requests Congress to boost investments in forest treatments“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 letter requests Congress to authorize efficient sawmilling of removed materials“Congress must also authorize the USFS to supply these removed materials to purchasers.”
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  The letter requests Congress to increase firefighting personnel and air resources for initial fire response“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.”