Firewise Communities recognize 6 new members

YAKIMA — The Firewise Communities program, which encourages residents to protect themselves from wildfires, is growing in Yakima County.

Six communities were recognized for their recent efforts as Firewise Communities by the Yakima County commissioners on Tuesday, joining the first community, which was recognized last year.

County Fire Marshal Jakki MacLean said interest in the program — which emphasizes using fire-resistant home building materials, thinning trees and brush to create defensive space around homes, safe accessibility for firefighters and emergency planning as a community — is definitely growing.

“I think people are very aware of the potential for wildfire here, even though we’ve been lucky, and the message that ‘It’s not if, but when’ has really sunk in,” she said.

The new communities are North Fork Tampico; Big Rock Road; Union Creek Cabin Tract; Sleepy Hollow Cabin Tract; Pine Cliffs Maintenance Company; and Bear Cove Cabins.

Collectively, that’s 119 homeowners taking steps to protect their communities, Deputy Fire Marshal Todd Hottell said.

Across the county, other homeowners in forested areas may be using Firewise strategies to protect their homes, but being recognized as a Firewise community requires neighbors to form a board and plan together, MacLean said. The program is backed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters.

The benefits of being a Firewise Community include preference in state and federal grant applications, she said.