Representatives from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) joined the Bordeaux Ranch community and other local partners in Thurston County for an event on Monday, Dec. 18, to raise awareness about the importance of using the offseason to plan for wildfires.
Bordeaux Ranch was threatened by the Mima Road Fire on Sept. 8, 2020, when approximately 268 acres burned. Since then, neighbors have taken steps to improve defensible space around their homes and have developed their own evacuation strategy for residents and their horses, to make sure everyone is wildfire ready.
“No one is immune to the impacts of wildfire — that’s why we created Wildfire Ready Neighbors and why I am thrilled when communities like Bordeaux Ranch work together to make themselves wildfire ready,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said in a news release. “The tragic Gray and Oregon fires in Spokane County reminded us that urban areas can be hit hard by wildfire. And this past wildfire season, more fires sparked up west of the mountains than east, highlighting just how much is at risk across the state if we don’t do all we can to prepare ourselves for wildfire threat in Western Washington. Winter is a great time to get your emergency plan in place.”
Jennifer Coe, DNR’s community resilience coordinator for Western Washington, acknowledged it can be difficult to think about wildfires in the middle of winter.
“It can be hard to think about wildfire when it’s cold and rainy outside, but it’s actually a great time to sit down with your neighbors to do things like develop and practice a wildfire evacuation plan, discuss projects for the following year, or look into funding opportunities to support wildfire preparedness work in the neighborhood so that you don’t get caught off guard when fire season arrives,” Coe said.
Members of the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and Thurston County’s Office of Emergency Management were also on hand at Monday’s event to meet with neighbors and answer questions specific to their property.
West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Chief Rob Smith said, in the event of a wildfire, responses can be delayed.
“The Wildfire Ready Neighbors program helps arm neighbors with the tools and information they need to reduce their property loss or worse,” Smith said. “In the event of an emergency, this buys the fire department time to come out and help reduce property loss. The homeowners really play a part here in helping to reduce loss, not only to their property, but for their neighbors as well.”
Residents across the state can sign up for DNR’s free Wildfire Ready Neighbors Program, which connects residents to wildfire experts and tools to take action to make homes and neighborhoods survivable in a wildfire.
Wildfire Ready Neighbors launched in Thurston, Mason and Pierce counties in spring 2023. Through the program, residents can sign up for a free Wildfire Ready Plan with manageable steps to take to reduce wildfire risk. Residents can also request a wildfire ready home visit, where a local wildfire professional can provide a customized assessment and recommendations for their property.
To learn more, visit https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/.
