Chelan County Commissioners Request Wildfire Management Changes

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  Chelan County Commissioners voted on Sept. 8“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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  Chelan County Commissioners sent a letter to U. S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell“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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  Chelan County Commissioners sent a letter to U. S. Representative Kim Schrier“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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  Chelan County Commissioners included recommendations for wildfire management and firefighting resources in the letter“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 cites Chelan County as the site of the largest wildfire in the 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 Congress to increase funding for 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 includes strategic thinning as a forest fuel treatment“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 includes prescribed burns as a forest fuel treatment“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 more air assets for initial attack on wildfires“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. If fires are not extinguished quickly, the fires spread and are “managed” until extinguished by season-ending rain and snow events.”
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  The letter requests more firefighting personnel for initial attack on wildfires“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. If fires are not extinguished quickly, the fires spread and are ”
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  The letter requests initial attack on wildfires within 24 hours of ignition“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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  The Commissioners emphasize 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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  The Commissioners state that USFS lands comprise over 70% of the county“The USFS lands alone comprise over 70% of the county.”
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  The Commissioners argue that increased investment in proactive forest management is necessary“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 Commissioners argue that increased investment in proactive forest management is necessary to reduce wildfire spread“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.”