State’s Wildfire Ready Neighbors Program Up And Running in Chelan Area

This year's Wildfire Ready Neighbors program is now in progress after launching in the city of Chelan’s Union Valley area this week.

The program's aim is to provides homeowners, renters, and small forest landowners with resources and tools to help protect themselves against wildfires.

Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz says the idea came to her after visiting neighborhoods that were destroyed by wildfires.

"How do we empower every home owner in Washington State, every neighborhood, every community that is facing the risk of wildfires to get more resilient, just like we're trying to make our forests more resilient," said Franz.

Chelan was the first city to launch the Wildfire Ready Neighbors program last year, when 545 residents signed up to get custom plans to prepare their homes and properties ahead of wildfire season.

The Wildfire Ready Neighbors program is available to renters, homeowners and private landowners at no cost. More information can be found here.

DNR is encouraging participation in the program now ahead of fire season.

Six Chelan County Fire Districts are particiapting in Wildfire Ready Neighbors, alsong with CAFE Wenatchee, Cascadia Conservation District and the Washington Resource Conservation and Development.

Last year, firefighters battled 1,872 wildfires across the state, the second most wildfires on record in state history.