Wildfire Assessments

Forest Fire Protection Assessment (FFPA) is a fee that is paid by private forest landowners and exempt entities (counties, cities, non-profits, and state landowners) to help pay for the cost of preparing to fight wildfires as opposed to actually fighting the fire (the costs that are referred to as "suppression costs"). Preparing to fight wildfire includes the purchasing of fire engines, training crews, equipment, etc.

Any landowner who pays FFPA also pays a Landowner Contingency Assessment (LOC). LOC pays for emergency fire suppression when a FFPA/LOC landowner starts a fire during a landowner operation.

As a private landowner, if your property is forested or unimproved, or partially forested or unimproved, you may pay FFPA and LOC through your county taxes administered by your county assessor.

See more in the Wildfire Assessments Brochure.

Learn more about:

• Assessment Rates

• Why your parcel pays FFPA/LOC

• FFPA Refunds and FFPA Combinations

Resources

• Application to Combine Forest Fire Protection Assessment

• Fire Protection Assessment Refund Form

Related Washington State Laws & Regulations

• RCW 76.04.610 - Forest Fire Protection Assessment

• RCW 76.04.005 - Definitions

• RCW 76.04.165 - Legislative declaration -- Forest protection zones

• RCW 76.04.630 - Landowner contingency forest fire suppression account

• RCW 52.16.170 - Taxation and assessment of lands lying both within a fire protection district and forest protection assessment area

• WAC 332-24-710 - Forest protection zone - Kitsap County

• WAC 332-24-720 - Forest protection zone - Pierce County

• WAC 332-24-730 - Forest protection zone - King County