Free Workshop on Preparing for Wildfires

The King County Department of Natural Resources, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and Eastside Fire and Rescue are all teaming up for a free “Firewise” workshop in North Bend on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Intended to prepare homeowners and educate them on the dangers of wildfires in wooded areas, the workshop will focus on subjects like family and property safety, creating safety zones around homes, developing fire-resistant gardens, and developing a community plan for dealing with wildfires and other emergencies.

The workshop, which will run from 9 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday, will feature panel discussions with firefighting professionals, interactive learning sessions, and role-playing exercises in which attendees will work through various scenarios.

November may seem like an odd time to hold a fire safety workshop, but officials with the King County Department of Natural Resources believe this is the perfect time to educate homeowners.

“Now is the time to start planning,” said Linda Vane of the King County Department of Natural Resources.

Vane says that by holding the workshop now homeowners can learn to plan out a fire-resistant garden before they head into next season, and it gives them time to create and maintain a safety zone around their home.

Vane says that creating that safety zone is one of the most important things a property owner can do in a wooded area.

“It’s really just a matter of creating spaces between things that might be flammable,” Vane said.

Vane suggests removing dead vegetation and using gravel instead of mulch in landscaping.

Vane stresses that she doesn’t want homeowners to forgo an attractive garden or yard, though, and says that a landscape designer will even be at the workshop to provide information on creating a beautiful and fire safe garden.

“We don’t want people to have a moonscape,” Vane said.

Vane says that recent fires like the Carnation fire of 2003 and the fires in Buckley and Fall City this year highlight the dangers that wildfires pose for areas like Sammamish.

“We could have one of those big fires very easily,” Vane said. All it takes is the right set of circumstances, like high winds and lots of dry brush, she added.

The “Firewise” workshop will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center in North Bend. Those interested in attending can contact Linda Vane at linda.vane@kingcounty.gov for registration information.