MEDIA ADVISORY
January 8, 2013
Fire hazard reduction grants available
Deadline March 1, 2012
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is soliciting project proposals that address and reduce the threat of wildfire in eastern Washington. Funding is provided through DNR by the U.S. Forest Service Wildland-Urban Interface Community Assistance Grant Program.
Successful projects will reduce wildfire threat by clearing vegetation, thinning, and pruning trees in high fire-risk areas throughout eastern Washington. Projects must be located within a completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). DNR will work with local CWPP groups within several eastern Washington counties to identify and prioritize projects.
Community Wildfire Protection Plans are part of the fire prevention strategies for Washington's wildland urban interface communities, those located in or near the woods. Many communities have mitigation plans or CWPP’s that have already been completed.
For information, please contact the DNR representative in your county:
- In Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens counties, contact Steve Harris, DNR Northeast Region Office, 509-684-7474.
- In Chelan, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties, contact Joe Weeks, DNR Southeast Region Office, 509-925-8510.
DNR’s wildfire mission
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 12.7 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state's largest on-call fire department, with over 1,000 employees trained and available to be dispatched to fires as needed. During fire season, this includes over 700 DNR employees who have other permanent jobs with the agency and about 400 seasonal employees hired for firefighting duties. Additionally, Department of Corrections’ adult offenders and Department of Social and Health Services-Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration juvenile offenders participate in the DNR Correctional Camps Program. DNR also participates in Washington's coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.
Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications Manager, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov
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