Home & Property
Preparing for Wildfire in North Central Washington
Wildfire is a growing reality across North Central Washington. From homes in town to rural properties and forested lands, wildfire risk affects us all. The good news is that there are proven steps you can take to reduce risk, protect your home, and be better prepared—before and after a wildfire.
This page is for everyone – whether you live in town, in a forested area, surrounded by sage brush, on acres of land; whether your neighbors are a few feet away or miles away. Even if you don’t have a home on your property, this page is still pertinent for you.
This page connects you to trusted, existing resources to help you prepare your home and property for wildfire and navigate recovery if your home or community is impacted.
Credit: North Forty Productions
Before Wildfire:
Reduce Risk & Prepare
Preparing before a wildfire is the most effective way to protect your home, property, and community. We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe. The steps below are designed to help you understand your risk, take action where it matters most, and connect with local experts.
Actions You Can Take
Get a Home Risk Assessment:
A home risk assessment is one of the best places to begin.
What is a home risk assessment?
- A visit from a local wildfire professional who walks your property with you
- Personalized recommendations based on your home, landscape, and local forest or shrubland conditions
- Information shared during the assessment is not shared with insurance companies
Get connected
After your assessment, you may be eligible for additional financial support to assist with defensible space projects, fuels treatments, or prescribed fire. Local professionals can help guide you through available options.
Wildfire Risk Assessment Tool:
Use this tool to understand local wildfire risk and identify actions that can reduce risk.
Understanding your wildfire risk is the first step in taking action to mitigate the risk around your home and property. Below you will find step-by-step instructions for reducing risk.
- Landscape, Preparedness
- Homeowner, Landowner, Renter
Credit: Kara Karboski
Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire is the planned, intentional use of fire under specific conditions to reduce fuels and restore forest health. Prescribed fire is done at the right place, right time, and by the right people.
Learn more:
Visit the Cascadia Prescribed Burn Association to learn how prescribed fire is used in North Central Washington on private lands.
For more information on prescribed fire, including how government and local agencies implement prescribed fire, visit our prescribed fire section.