Programs > Better Forests > Wildfire Mitigation Program

Wildfire Mitigation Program

Why Wildfire Mitigation

King County is home to spectacular forest lands that provide important recreational, ecological, cultural, and economic benefits to King County residents. However, under the right combination of climatic, ecological and/or human factors, these same forests can be vulnerable to wildfires.

The increasing frequency of significant wildfire events West of the Cascade Mountains have heightened awareness that King County communities need to be better prepared for wildfire. Within King County, recent significant wildfires include the Bolt Creek Fire near Skykomish in 2022 and the Loch Katrine Fire northeast of North Bend in 2022. As the climate continues to change, leading to a longer dry season that increases the likelihood of significant wildfire events, the need for preparation by communities and individuals living in areas vulnerable to wildfire becomes ever more urgent.

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Project Highlights

Taking Action to Mitigate Wildfire Risks

King Conservation District’s Wildfire Mitigation Program aims to make communities more resilient in the face of increasingly frequent wildfire events through a combination of wildfire risk assessments and wildfire mitigation projects.

KCD works in collaboration with Washington State Department of Natural Resources, local King County fire districts (including Eastside Fire and Rescue, Valley Regional Fire Authority), King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, and the Red Cross.

What Is A Wildfire Risk Assessment

KCD assesses individual homes and communities located in the Wildland Urban Interface. KCD focuses assessments on the area within 100 feet of a home and makes recommendations for actions that people can take to prepare their home for wildfire.

In community-owned forests, KCD can also assess forest health and develop projects such as thinning or fuel management to mitigate the severity of possible wildfires.

Who Is Eligible for Wildfire Risk Assessments

Individuals and community associations that are located within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) are eligible for Wildfire Risk Assessments. Check if you are located in the WUI .

Please note: if you live within Eastside Fire and Rescue ’s service area, contact them directly for your initial Wildfire Risk Assessment.

Wildfire Mitigation Project Planning and Cost-share

To help communities and homeowners implement the recommended actions identified during a wildfire mitigation assessment, KCD offers wildfire mitigation project planning assistance and cost-share funding. KCD reimburses 75% of the project cost subject to project cost approval.

For Individuals

Practices eligible for cost-share funding include:

  • Vegetation Removal
  • Hardscaping
  • Gutter/Roof Maintenance
  • Screening Vents
  • Deck or Home Skirting
  • Attached Deck Improvement
  • Removal or Replacement Flammable Fence and Similar Attachments
  • Tree/Shrub Pruning

See the full Individual Applicant Guide

For Communities

Practices eligible for cost-share funding include all practices listed above and:

  • Forest Stand Improvement
  • Tree/Shrub Pruning
  • Brush Management
  • Woody Residue Treatment
  • Fuel Break
  • Fire Break

See the full Community Applicant Guide.

Who Is Eligible for Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share Funding:

To be eligible for funding, individuals or community associations need to be located within an area assessed to be at a high risk of wildfires and have a Wildfire Risk Assessment conducted by either King Conservation District, WA Department of Natural Resources, or Eastside Fire and Rescue.

To complete a project the owner or community association will need to:

    1. complete a Wildfire Mitigation Service Request
    2. hire their own contractors (or choose to do the work themselves)
    3. manage the project work to completion

Wildfire Mitigation Service Request

Resources

Firewise USA: The WA DNR can help organized neighborhoods and communities in King County enroll in the Firewise USA® Program. This national recognition program provides residents with a framework for organizing residents of a community to take collective actions that can increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and reduce wildfire risks at the local level. Enrollment in and good standing as a Firewise USA® Site often provides opportunities for communities to access additional financial assistance such as grants. Learn more about WA DNRs Firewise program: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/firewise or from the NFPAs Firewise USA ™ webpage:
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa

King County Community Wildfire Protection Plan: King Conservation District is an active partner in King County’s Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy. Learn more about this important county wide strategy to reduce wildfire risk in the King County Wildfire Strategy Report.https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/climate/documents/king-county-wildfire-strategy-report.pdf
https://kingcounty.gov/zh-cn/dept/executive/governance-leadership/king-county-executive/news/archive/2022/july/26-wildfire-risk-reduction-strategy
Video: Wildfire risk is increasing: take these steps to prepare your home
Preparing homes for wildfire and Home Ignition Zones: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire
Understanding what contributes to Wildfire Risk: https://wildfirerisk.org/understand-risk/
Steps for mitigating your home and the area around your home (Home Ignition Zone) against wildfire: https://defensiblespace.org/house/house-new/

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