Preparing for Wildfire

Wildfires are powerful and can be very dangerous. Learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property from wildfire.

Wildfire is a fact of life in Spokane County.¹ Wildfires near the places we live, work and play can produce thick smoke, flying embers and high heat that threaten lives and safety. Wildfire behavior is often unpredictable as fires move, spread and change directions quickly. Everyone can take steps to help reduce the risk of wildfire and learn how to stay safe during a wildfire emergency.

Larger and More Frequent Wildfires

Naturally occurring wildfires have shaped ecosystems from time immemorial.^2,3 Fire has a natural and essential role in Eastern Washington’s ecosystem. Historically, frequent but less severe wildfires⁴ occurred every six to 30 years.⁵ Wildfire activity has increased in recent years.⁶ Wildfires have become more destructive,⁷ and more people are living in areas at higher risk for wildfires.^8,9 With an increasing number of fires, larger fires, and more homes in wildfire-prone areas, the risk to human health and safety is growing.

Risk Factors – Higher Risk Areas and Behaviors

In the Spokane region, many people live, work and play in or near natural areas. Areas where homes are built near wildlands are called the wildland-urban interface or WUI (woo-ee).⁸ The risk of wildfire is higher in WUI areas.⁸ See the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ map of Washington’s wildland-urban interface areas.

Nearly 90% of wildland fires in the United States are caused by people.¹⁰ Debris burning, unattended campfires, and sparks from vehicles are top causes of wildfire starts in Washington.¹¹ Learn more about how to reduce human-caused wildfires from Smokey Bear and the U.S. Forest Service.

On August 18, 2023, four large fires erupted in Eastern Washington, spreading resources thin under extremely dangerous conditions. Two fires in Spokane County, named the Gray and Oregon fires, ultimately destroyed 366 homes and caused two deaths.

This StoryMap presentation, developed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, illustrates what happened and how agencies and individuals collaborated to respond. With Spokane County consistently bearing the highest concentration of fires annually in Washington, the lessons learned from the Gray and Oregon wildfires provide valuable information that can be used to strengthen community preparedness, improve response and reduce future risk.

Even though wildfires continue to increase in frequency and severity in Eastern Washington, you can take steps to protect your property, yourself and your loved ones by learning:

• How to stay informed about area wildfires
• What to do in the event of a wildfire
• How to prevent wildfire
• About things you can do now to prepare for a wildfire

Stay Informed About Wildfires in Your Area

There are several things you can do to stay informed during fire season.

Weather Alerts

Pay attention to fire conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) issues a Red Flag Warning when critical fire weather conditions are happening or about to happen.¹² If a Red Flag Warning is issued, take extra precautions in natural areas, be on alert for signs of fire in the area, and pay attention to emergency alerts.

Emergency Alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are sent automatically to WEA-capable cell phones in the vicinity of an emergency. WEA alerts are based on the cell phone’s location, not the home address of the phone’s owner. You can register to receive alerts based on your home address on Alert Spokane. This service provides local alerts for emergencies near the addresses you provide, no matter where the cell phone happens to be.

What To Do When Wildfire Is in the Area

If you see wildfire, call 911.¹³ In windy conditions, wildfire can spread faster than most people can run.¹⁴

Evacuation Orders

Follow evacuation orders and instructions to leave to avoid being caught in fire, heavy smoke or road congestion.¹⁵

Some People May Need More Time to Evacuate

People with disabilities and people without access to vehicles may need more time to evacuate safely. Leave at an earlier stage of evacuation if you need more time to evacuate. Plan for accessible transportation that may be needed during evacuation.¹⁶

Evacuation Routes

Use the official evacuation maps provided by Spokane Regional Emergency Communications.

Clothing

When evacuating from a fire, wear long pants, a long sleeve shirt, sturdy shoes, an N95 respirator face mask and goggles or glasses, if possible.¹⁷

While Evacuating

Stay alert to emergency notifications. Remain calm. Follow the advice given by authorities. Follow local fire departments or law enforcement agencies on social media. Stay tuned to local radio or TV stations, watch for cell phone alerts, or use a NOAA weather radio to get updates.

Prevent Wildfire

There are two parts to preventing wildfire. You can take steps to prevent a wildfire from starting in the first place, and you can take steps to help prevent wildfire from spreading.

Reduce the Risk of Starting Wildfire

Find Current Burning Conditions for Spokane County

Find current burning conditions for Spokane County and sign up for burn restriction updates from Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. In Washington, outdoor recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from all structures and combustibles.²⁰

Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

The number of human-caused wildfires spikes around the Fourth of July.²³ Check conditions and local regulations before using fireworks. The use of fireworks is illegal in most areas of Spokane County.²⁴ If fireworks are legal in your area and you choose to use them, have a bucket of water or a hose nearby when igniting fireworks. Only light one firework at a time. Soak used or faulty fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.²⁵

Learn more about how to avoid starting wildfires from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Stop Wildfire From Spreading

Flying embers are the leading cause of homes being lost to wildfire.¹ Help prevent wildfire from spreading to homes by creating defensible space, hardening building exteriors and landscaping with fire-resistant materials.

Create Defensible Space

Create defensible space around homes, including commercial housing units and parks for mobile homes and RVs, and other buildings. Defensible space is an important and effective way to help protect people and property from catastrophic wildfire.⁵ 

• Immediate Zone: Make sure there are no flammable materials of any kind from zero to five feet around the edges of the home and attached decks.
• Intermediate Zone: Ensure that any vegetation is clean, green and well-maintained in the area five to 30 feet from the building.
• Extended Zone: Remove dead plants and clear heavy accumulation of litter or debris in the area 30 to 200 feet away from buildings, decks and your home’s edges.

Flying embers are the cause of fire in the majority of cases where homes are lost to wildfire.

Start by clearing debris away from homes and other occupied structures. Clean out gutters and keep roofs clear of flammable materials. Cut back overhanging branches. Move all flammable items at least five feet away from the building. Keep all areas up to 30 feet around homes lean, clean and green by removing dead branches and maintaining lawns and other plants during hot summer months.²⁶

Harden Building Exteriors

Up to 90% of home ignitions from wildfire are caused by flying embers, not walls of flame.²⁷ Don’t store flammable material under decks or balconies.²⁸ When replacing a roof, siding, decks or gutters, choose fire-resistant materials whenever possible. A range of low-cost to more expensive upgrades to buildings can increase a building’s resistance to wildfire. Find detailed information on home hardening options at ReadyforWildfire.org.

Landscape With Fire-Resistant Materials and Vegetation

You can also choose plants that are more fire resistant. Learn about options and see a list of plants in the Fire-Resistant Plants for Eastern Washington Guide. To learn more about making homes more resilient to wildfire, visit FEMA’s blog 3 Tips to Make Your Home Resilient Against Wildfires. 

Prepare Now for Wildfire Emergency

If you are ever instructed to evacuate during a fire event, you may have very little time to leave. Prepare now to be ready to go quickly during an emergency.

Talk to your neighbors about wildfire safety and working together during a wildfire.^30,31

Stay alert to fire hazards in your neighborhood. Advocate for safer neighborhoods by talking to property owners, homeowners’ associations, local officials and elected representatives about wildfire safety.

See Also

• FEMA Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
• International Fire Chiefs Association My Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide

People With Disabilities and People Without Access to Vehicles

People with disabilities and people who do not have access to a vehicle may need to do more advance planning for potential evacuations. Plan for transportation needs by discussing evacuation plans with neighbors, family members, local emergency management, transportation agencies, or health care providers.

Home and Property Owners

Multiple programs are available to support homes and communities to be more resilient to wildfires.

Firewise

Spokane Conservation District offers free Firewise risk assessment with a District Forester. Visit Firewise – Spokane Conservation District to learn more and sign up.

Wildfire Ready Neighbors

Wildfire Ready Neighbors offers free consultations to help plan actions, connect with resources and help communities. Sign up at Wildfire Ready to get a free consultation and personalized Wildfire Ready Plan.

Forestland Owners

Find information about financial assistance for wildfire resilience and forest health for non-commercial forestland owners from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.