HomeMy WebLinkAbout061323 FW_ Request for Help in Addressing Mega-Wildfires
________________________________
From: Christine Gregoire
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 11:58:21 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: Christine Gregoire
Subject: Request for Help in Addressing Mega-Wildfires
________________________________
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
________________________________
Dear Executives, Commissioners, Mayors,
Today, Challenge Seattle is releasing the report “Are Mega-Wildfires Our New Normal?” The report highlights the public’s critical role in preventing mega-fires in Washington, considering
that 81% of wildfires in the state are human caused. We are asking for your help in sharing what every Washingtonian can do to prevent and protect ourselves from mega-wildfires.
Hundreds of wildfires rage out of control in Canada and the Pacific Northwest faces an elevated risk of wildfires in the coming weeks and months. Since 2015, ~4.6 million acres have
burned in Washington. For scale, that’s the size of King and Snohomish Counties combined.
We are asking for your help in educating the public on how we can prevent mega-wildfires and alter what is forecasted as a challenging wildfire season for Washington State. Below are
five actions every Washingtonian can take today to prevent wildfires and protect ourselves and our natural spaces:
* Responsibly start, manage, and extinguish campfires and debris burns.
* Safely use outdoor equipment, like lawnmowers, and vehicles that can cause a spark.
* Comply with burn bans.
* Remove flammable items within five feet of your home, put screens on vents, and take other measures to build your home’s fire resiliency.
* Create smoke readiness and evacuation plans.
Attached you will find a communications toolkit with ready-to-use content and social media copy to disseminate these five actions with your employees, networks, and constituents. Please
feel free to share the full report, which can be found here <https://21652974-25d8-4ff1-bbc0-8687c8ec1f64.filesusr.com/ugd/e29733_3ef72af9eda54a54b26f561d337a54d4.pdf> .
As you know, Washington is home to local and national leaders in wildfire response, prevention, and recovery, and this project was completed with the advice and guidance of many of them
including representatives from the USDA Forest Service, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, University of Washington, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thank you for your consideration of our request and your tireless service and dedication to this pressing issue.
Chris Gregoire
CEO, Challenge Seattle
Former Washington State Governor