Spokane County, Washington Community Wildfire Protection Plan
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Spokane County, Washington Community Wildfire Protection Plan January 2014 Vision: Institutionalize and promote a Countywide wildfire hazard mitigation ethic through leadership, professionalism, and excellence, leading the way to a safe, sustainable Spokane County. 2007 Marshal Complex Fire, Spokane County This plan was developed by the Spokane County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Planning committee in cooperation with Tetra Tech, Inc., and Bridgeview Consulting, LLC. Acknowledgments This Community Wildfire Protection Plan represents the efforts and cooperation of a number of organizations and agencies, coming together through their commitment to work together to improve the preparedness for wildfire events while reducing factors of risk. Airway Heights Fire Department Spokane County Fire District #2 Medical Lake Fire Department Spokane County Fire District #11 Latah Fire Department Spokane County Fire District #12 Waverly Fire Department Spokane International Airport Fire Department Fairchild Air Force Base Fire Department City of Spokane City of Millwood City of Spokane Valley Town of Latah Unincorporated Communities City of Deer Park Town of Waverly and City of Cheney Town of Rockford Local Businesses and Citizens of City of Medical Lake Town of Fairfield Spokane County City of Airway Heights Town of Spangle City of Liberty Lake Copies of this document may be obtained by contacting the Spokane County Commissioner’s Office Spokane County Commissioner’s Office Spokane County Courthouse 1116 West Broadway Avenue Spokane, Washington Phone: 509-477-2265 Website: www.spokanecounty.org Spokane County 2014 Community Wildfire Protection Plan i Table of Contents CHAPTER I ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1 OVERVIEW OF THIS PLAN AND ITS DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................... 1 1.1 GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES ................................................................................................................. 2 1.1.1 Federal Emergency Management Agency Philosophy ............................................................................ 2 1.1.2 U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) .......................................................................................... 2 1.1.3 Additional State and Federal Guidelines Adopted ................................................................................... 3 1.1.4 Planning Philosophy and Goals ............................................................................................................... 4 1.1.4.1 Spokane County Fire Mitigation Planning Effort and Philosophy .................................................................. 4 1.1.4.1.1 CWPP Mission Statement .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.4.1.2 Vision Statement ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1.4.1.3 Goals .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.5 Integration with Other Local Planning Guidelines .................................................................................. 5 1.1.5.1 Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Wildland Fire Management Plan ............................................................. 5 1.1.5.2 Spokane County Comprehensive Plan ............................................................................................................ 5 1.1.5.3 Spokane County Multi-Jurisdiction All-Hazard Mitigation Plan .................................................................... 6 1.1.5.4 Spokane County Code ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.5.5 River Bluff Ranch Architecture and Landscaping Standards .......................................................................... 6 1.1.5.6 Mullen Hill Terrace Mobile Home Park Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2006 ..................................... 6 1.1.5.7 Denison Chattaroy Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2006 ...................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 2 DOCUMENTING THE PLANNING PROCESS ............................................................................................ 9 2.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANNING PROCESS .................................................................................................... 9 2.2 THE PLANNING TEAM ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Multi-Jurisdictional Participation .......................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Planning Committee Meetings ............................................................................................................... 11 2.3 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 12 2.3.1 News Releases ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Survey .................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.3 Public Meetings ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.4 Documented Review Process ................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.5 Continued Public Involvement .............................................................................................................. 15 CHAPTER 3 ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 3 SPOKANE COUNTY CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................... 16 3.1 DEMOGRAPHICS .......................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 SOCIOECONOMICS ....................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3 CULTURAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 18 3.3.1 National Register of Historic Places ...................................................................................................... 18 3.4 TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................................................. 19 3.4.1 Communication Sites ............................................................................................................................ 19 3.5 VEGETATION AND CLIMATE........................................................................................................................ 19 3.5.1 Monthly Climate Summaries in Spokane County .................................................................................. 22 3.6 AIR QUALITY .............................................................................................................................................. 22 3.6.1 Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency .................................................................................................... 23 3.6.2 Washington State Smoke Management Plan ......................................................................................... 23 3.7 HYDROLOGY ............................................................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 4 ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 4 RISK AND PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENTS ........................................................................................... 27 4.1 WILDLAND FIRE CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................................................................... 27 4.1.1 Weather .................................................................................................................................................. 27 Spokane County 2014 Community Wildfire Protection Plan ii 4.1.2 Topography ............................................................................................................................................ 27 4.1.3 Fuels....................................................................................................................................................... 28 4.2 WILDFIRE IGNITION AND EXTENT PROFILE ................................................................................................. 29 4.3 WILDFIRE HAZARD ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................