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Homeless fund could help prevent wildfires in northeast Washington

Aa large plume of smoke and steam rises from just south of Pateros, Wash., Friday morning, July 18, 2014 from the Carlton Complex Fire. At that point, the wildfire had burned about 100 homes and prompted the evacuation of Pateros, Washington. (DON SEABROOK / AP)
By Jim Camden jimc@spokesman.com(509) 879-7461

OLYMPIA – Residents in Washington’s northeast counties would get help preparing their homes to withstand wildfires through a fund set up to help the homeless.

The House unanimously passed a bill that allows four counties – Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille – to use money collected from the $40 fee charged to record documents to educate homeowners about wildfire risks and prevention measures.

The fee goes into a fund to help the homeless. Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic, said wildfires in recent years have prompted major evacuations from fire zones and left hundreds homeless. Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, called it a good plan to prevent homelessness by prevent losses from wildfires.

A separate bill, also approved unanimously, calls for state agencies to use different management practices on state-owned lands to make them more resistant to fire and possibly serve as fire breaks in catastrophic wildfires.