Cle Elum community is the 100th ‘Firewise Community/USA’ in state

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark congratulates residents of a community near Cle Elum for reducing wildfire threats to their homes. Photo: Janet Pearce/DNR.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark joined with other officials this morning in Cle Elum to congratulate residents of Hidden Valley Meadows/Vista Community for becoming the 100th Firewise Community in the state. At a special event this morning, residents of the Kittitas County community displayed wildfire prevention techniques they put in place to protect their homes and property from fire. The Hidden Valley Meadows/Vista Community was evacuated, but spared from, last year’s destructive Taylor Bridge Fire, which came within a mile of the development.

CLICK on image to see eight simple actions you can take that will greatly reduce wildfire risks to your home. Image: firewise.org.

Communities can earn national recognition from the Firewise Communities/USA® Program for taking steps to reduce wildfire threats to their homes and other structures.

Attending this morning’s event with Goldmark were several members of the media, along with representatives from the Washington Conservation Commission, Kittitas County Fire District #7, Kittitas County Commission, Kittitas County Conservation District, and Skagit Conservation District.

We’ve already had several wildfires this year in Washington State, and the fire season just begun. Here are eight things you can do this weekend to improve the odds of your home surviving a wildfire.

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Wildfire in Capitol State Forest causes some recreation closures

A helicopter fighting the fire in Capitol State Forest. Photo by: Chuck Turley

5/7 Update: Fire is now 90% contained at 80-acres. Roads are open. Use caution. There may be heavy equipment still in use. 

 The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is fighting a wildfire that started early Sunday morning in Capitol State Forest; the cause of the fire is still under investigation (more information on the fire).

The fire has burned 60 acres, affecting hiking, mountain biking, and horse trails.

Roads and recreation sites affected by the fire

The C-line road is closed starting from the Delphi Entrance near Noschka Road (see Capitol State Forest map). 

Location of fire activities in Capitol State forest. Photo: DNR

From the Rock Candy Entrance, C-4000 is closed as well. Fall Creek Campground and Trailhead, Little Larch Trail, Wedekind, and Green Line Trail are just a few of the main recreation sites affected by these road closures.

The closure may land right in the middle of our recent wave of nice weather, but you don’t have to let this inconvenience keep you from enjoying the sunshine. Here’s a list of a few great alternative recreation areas within 50 miles of Capitol State Forest.

Tahuya State Forest. Tahuya offers recreation opportunities for a variety of activities, including off-road vehicle riding (ORV), horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping and other uses.

Green Mountain State Forest. Located a few miles west of Bremerton, Green Mountain offers 13 miles of trails and recreation opportunities for a variety of activities including horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping, and other uses.

Elbe Hills and Tahoma State Forest. Located 6 miles east of Elbe, Elbe Hills offers trails for horseback riding, ORV riding, hiking, and camping.

Outdoor burning is the leading cause of wildfire ignition. One of the best ways to protect access to your local recreation area is to manage your campfires responsibly. Be sure to follow these tips next time you enjoy an evening around the fire:

• Never leave a campfire unattended at any time.
• Drown fire thoroughly with water.
• Stir until cold.
• Drown fire again and stir.
• Never leave a campfire until it is completely out and cool to the touch.

It looks like it’s shaping up to be a beautiful summer! Be safe out there and remember, you are our eyes and ears in the forest. That makes you our best chance in catching wildfires and other issues early on. To report a fire, call 9-1-1. To report other illegal activities call 1-855-883-8368 or email forestwatch@dnr.wa.gov .

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DNR wildland fire crew members honored for swift actions in civilian rescue during Taylor Bridge Fire

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark presents a commendation certificate to DNR employee Bob Stein recently in Ellensburg. Additional recipients were Dave Adams (center) and Dave Brown (behind Stein). Photo Koshare Eagle/DNR.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark recently honored three employees of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for their efforts to ensure the safety of citizens caught up in the Taylor Bridge Fire last summer.

David Brown and Bob Stein, who work in DNR’s Southeast Region Office based Ellensburg; and David Adams, from the DNR Aviation Program in Olympia, successfully coordinated their efforts to rescue two civilians who were at imminent risk during the first hours of the wildfire. Goldmark, who also oversees DNR, presented the three workers with special commendations during a visit to Ellensburg in April.

Rescue effort was success 

DNR weekend reading: Fiercer fires ahead, mysterious dark lightning, and other science news

Children learned proper tree planting techniques at Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, April 25, in Olympia. Photo: Jessica Payne/DNR.

Here are links to articles about natural resources, climate, energy and other topics published recently by universities, scientific journals, organizations, and other sources:

environment360: Fires Burn More Fiercely As Northern Forests Warm
From North America to Siberia, rising temperatures and drier woodlands are leading to a longer burning season and a significant increase in forest fires. Scientists warn that this trend is expected to continue in the years ahead.

American Geophysical Union: Wildfires can burn hot without ruining soil, new study finds
A fiery test on a 22-acre watershed in Portugal found that the hotter the fire—and the denser the vegetation feeding the flames—the less the underlying soil heated up, an inverse effect which runs contrary to previous studies and conventional wisdom

Florida International University: Researchers uncover mystery of charcoal’s fate
US and European researchers have established that black carbon, or biochar—most of it produced by wildfires and other biomass combustion—doesn’t stay in the soil indefinitely. Each year, around 27 million tons of it is transported to the sea by rivers and thus enters the carbon cycle.

American Geophysical Union: Scientists detect dark lightning linked to visible lightning
Dark lightning—the most energetic radiation produced naturally on Earth—was unknown before 1991. Scientists now know that these bursts of gamma rays occur in thunderstorms; next is figuring out ‘why.”

Soil Science Society of America: Study finds that residential lawns release more carbon dioxide than corn fields
A new study finds that more carbon dioxide is released from residential lawns than corn fields. Although the difference is attributable to higher soil temperatures in urbanized areas compared with agricultural lands, the implication is that even small urban ‘heat islands’ have an impact on carbon dioxide release amounts.

 

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Ready or not… wildfire season starts next Monday (so, get ready!)

The Line Fire burned several hundred acres and threatened structures on the Spokane Indian Reservation in 2010. Photo: DNR.

Regardless of what the thermometer or rain gauge say, wildfire season officially begins on April 15 in Washington state.

The risk of wildfires can change rapidly during the spring when spells of warmer, drier weather occur with increasing frequency. Wildfires can damage natural resources, destroy homes, and threaten the safety of the public and the firefighters who protect forests and communities. In fact, there have already been 17 forest fires reported this year on lands protected by DNR.

Now is a good time to consider fire-resistant landscaping techniques that can help keep your home safe, especially if you live close to the forest or other open lands.

Fire-resistant landscaping can be both functional and beautiful. Regardless of whether you’re in the design phase or just doing yard maintenance, remember, preventing wildfire damage is really a matter of the right plant in the right place. Try these tips to help keep your home safe from wildfire this year…  

Defensible Space 102: Creating fire-resistant landscaping

Defensible Space 102 is the second installment in a ‘how to’ blog series teaching you how to defend your home against wildfire. Stay tuned for Defensible Space 103 next Wednesday!

This post was scheduled for last Wednesday, March 27, but DNR was busy managing a major landslide that occurred on Whidbey Island. This just goes to remind us, you can’t plan for a disaster. Prepare today.

Firefighters defending a home against wildfire have a better chance if the home has defensible space built around it.
Photo by: Jessica Payne/DNR

Last week, we covered the basics (view Defensible Space 101 here). Today, the lesson covers what to do next, and what more is involved. What can you do this weekend to protect your home, even if you only have a day at a time to work on it?  

Spring cleaning? Time for Defensible Space 101

Defensible Space 101 is the first in a ‘how to’ blog series teaching you how to defend your home against wildfire. Defensible Space 102 is now available!

This house was saved by defensible space at the Chelan Butte Fire in July 2012. Photo by: DNR/Sarah Foster

Spring is here and that means it’s time for Spring Cleaning. The month of March always seems to bring us interesting weather. But soon you’ll be hearing the sounds of lawn mowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers. Yard work is inevitable and a sure sign that spring has arrived. Don’t let spring’s scattered storms and showers fool you, wildfire season officially begins April 15.

As you get ready to tame your overgrown yard this spring, take a look at your plants. Do you notice all the green foliage around your property? All of that green undergrowth will dry out in the hot summer months, turning into fuel that can put your property at risk of wildfire.

Defend your home from wildfire 101
Spring cleaning can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to let a project like creating defensible space against wildfires around your home slip until summer. Today, we’re starting with the basics. What can you do this weekend to protect your home, even if you only have one hour?

Several steps are recommended to protect your home from wildfire. Here are a few first steps you can do today, even if you only have a little free time to clean, to help protect your home from wildfire. 

DNR weekend reading: Lots and lots of sediment yet to flow down Elwha River, and other articles

Eocene continental sedimentary deposit of the Chuckanut formation in northwest Washington state. The formation’s deposits—fine-to-medium grained sandstones with lesser amounts of interbedded shale, conglomerate, and coal—and the presence of plant fossils indicate that the area was once a low-lying coastal plain with a subtropical climate. Photo: David Jeschke.

Here are links to articles about natural resources, climate, energy and other topics  published recently by universities, scientific journals, organizations, and other sources:

University of Washington: Tracking sediments’ fate in largest-ever dam removal
Salmon are beginning to swim up the Elwha River for the first time in more than a century. But University of Washington marine geologists are watching what’s beginning to flow downstream—34 million cubic yards of sediments from the largest dam-removal project ever undertaken.

University of California-Santa Cruz: Bats not bothered by forest fires, study finds
A survey of bat activity in burned and unburned areas after a major wildfire in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains found no evidence of detrimental effects on bats one year after the fire. The findings suggest that bats are resilient to high-severity fire, and some species may even benefit from the effects of fire on the landscape.

Scientific American: Clearing Forests May Transform Local—and Global—Climate
In the last 15 years, 200,000 hectares of the Mau Forest in western Kenya have been converted to agricultural land. Previously called a “water tower” because it supplied water to the Rift Valley and Lake Victoria, the forest region has dried up; in 2009 the rainy season—from August to November—saw no rain, and since then precipitation has been modest.

Virginia Tech: Researchers propose innovative solution to ensure biofuel plants don’t become noxious weeds
Some plants that are ideal for bioenergy production can potentially become invasive weeds that can cause billions of dollars in economic damage. A Virginia Tech researcher proposes changes in the regulatory methodology for evaluating the invasive potential of plants that are under consideration for large-scale cultivation as biofuel feedstock.

Stanford University: Stanford scientists calculate the carbon footprint of grid-scale battery technologies
Solar and wind power pose a challenge for the U.S. electrical grid, which lacks the capacity to store surplus clean electricity and deliver it on demand. Researchers are developing grid-scale storage batteries, but the fossil fuel required to build these technologies could negate some of the environmental benefits of new solar and wind farms, say scientists.

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Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark puts DNR’s fire equipment to the test

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark knows a lot about engines, and doesn’t hesitate to ask DNR staff tough questions to make sure this equipment is the best. Photo by: DNR/Jessica Payne

It was cold Tuesday morning when Commissioner Peter Goldmark arrived at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Compound to examine the newest editions to the agency’s fire truck cavalry.

Although last year’s fire season may still seem fresh for most Washington residents, DNR is already gearing up for the upcoming season.

DNR is making every effort to make sure all of its firefighting equipment is in prime condition and all crew members are extensively trained.

“When the fire bell rings, this equipment gets put to the test. That is why it’s so important to ensure that we have the best possible equipment to put the fire out.” – Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark

This year, 350 seasonal workers are being hired for the 2013 fire season. They will join the 650 permanent personnel during fire training this spring. DNR will staff approximately 96 engines, 3 initial attack crews, and 5 helitack crews. Each engine carries approximately 3,000 feet of fire hose.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark takes it upon himself to ensure DNR’s new fire equipment is the best possible equipment available. Photo by: DNR/Jessica Payne

DNR still has many openings for seasonal fire workers. If you would like to join the team, visit our jobs page and apply today.

Learn more about DNR’s fire program, gain wildfire information, and find out how to protect your home from potential wildfire on DNR’s Resource Protection webpage.

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Our top five posts in January

Here are the five blogs posted in January that drew the most views by Ear to the Ground readers.

Volunteers step up to remodel DNR winter cabin in time for snowmobile season
Using a generous grant from the Washington State Snowmobile Association the Butte Busters Snowmobile Club and Association of Okanogan County Snowmobile Club led the way in a major remodel and update of the Hunters Meadow Cabin in Loomis State Forest in time for snowmobile and hunting seasons… more

‘Twas 313 years ago that the Northwest really, really shook; mega earthquake & tsunami hit on Jan. 26, 1700
And we mean: really shook. An estimated) magnitude 9.0 megathrust earthquake in 1700 on the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coastlines of Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and British Columbia produced a tsunami that is noted in 18th century Japanese documents… more

DNR will hire seasonal wildland firefighters. Apply online
DNR’s recruitment for Forest Fire Fighter Crew members and Engine Leaders/Squad Boss positions for the 2013 summer season was a popular blog post. Visit the DNR Jobs Page where you can sign up for weekly emails of new job announcements… more

Goldmark keys in on forest health and climate change; begins second term as Commissioner of Public Lands
The complete Inaugural Remarks of Peter Goldmark as presented DNR staff on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, as Goldmark begins his second term as state Commissioner of Public Lands… more

Award honors two of DNR’s finest forest health program employees
The U.S. Forest Service honored DNR employees Aleksandar Dozic, forestry technician, and Glenn Kohler, forest entomologist, with its Regional Forester’s 2012 Team Award for Excellence in Safety and Health for their innovations that reduced flight time required for forest health aerial surveys… more

 

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