Public’s comments sought on fire plans

How can Spokane County better protect itself from fires?

A series of meetings next week will ask residents to share their ideas as part of the county’s development of a community wildfire protection plan.

“We have to start identifying the areas that are at the highest risk,” said Janean Creighton, a natural resources educator at the Washington State University Extension Northeast District. “Obviously it’s going to take a while to be able to put plans like this in place wherever there are high-risk areas, and there are a lot of them in Spokane County.”

Residents were surveyed last month about construction materials in their homes, proximity to water sources and other fire-safety factors.

Next week’s meetings offer a chance to hear about the plan, ask questions and offer opinions on issues such as which areas of the county are most prone to fire and what should be addressed first.

Federal and state money is available for tree removal and other fire safety measures, Creighton said.

The plan is a partnership among local, state and federal agencies and is being prepared by Northwest Management Co., a forestry consulting firm in Moscow, Idaho.

As required by the federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act, similar plans are being developed across the country, including in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. A good plan can give a county an advantage when it applies for state and federal money for fire protection, Creighton said.