Dear friends and neighbors,
It’s been quite a busy interim. Since the legislative session ended, I have been hard at work meeting with community members and stakeholders — learning, traveling, and road-mapping the upcoming year.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Colville Tribe’s reservation and the Roslyn area last week, focusing on the crucial issue of fire hazard mitigation. In light of this, I want to share with you some insights from my trip and the latest developments on this important topic.
During my visit, I witnessed firsthand the dedicated efforts of firefighters from the Colville Tribes and conservation organizations like the Nature Conservancy to address the growing concerns related to forest fires in our state. There is important work being done on the Colville Reservation and in the Central Cascade Forest near Cle Elum, which is representative of the larger efforts across our state to restore our forestlands to their natural processes.
For many decades, federal policies leaned heavily towards fire suppression, causing our forests to become overgrown and loaded with excessive fuel. Coupled with the ever-increasing impacts of climate change, these policies made our forests more vulnerable to devastating wildfires than ever before.
This month, local, county, and state fire agencies collaborated on a prescribed burn in Kittitas County, a practice that has become increasingly common. By reintroducing fire to the landscape through controlled burns, they are effectively creating a protective barrier around towns like Roslyn, Ronald, and Cle Elum, playing a vital role in mitigating, minimizing, and reducing the negative impacts of wildfires.
The success of these efforts relies on carefully chosen conditions, and they don’t proceed unless those conditions are ideal. Prescribed burns are a significant strategy in the state’s 20-year forest health plan. The goal is to contain 90% of wildfires within a mere 10 acres or less. These practices are part of a broader strategy to bolster the resilience of our landscapes in the face of wildfires.
As the weather becomes hotter and drier, it’s imperative that we pay close attention to these initiatives. The recent surge in wildfires around our state is a stark reminder of the challenges we face. The ultimate goal is to cultivate a healthy forest that can be entrusted to state or federal authorities for long-term protection.
As your senator, I remain committed to supporting and advocating for policies that promote the safety and well-being of our constituents, reduce smoke pollution, and preserve the environment. In my role, I will continue to work with state agencies and organizations to ensure that we are better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support, and if you have any questions or concerns regarding these initiatives or any other issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Send me an email at jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov or give me a call at 360-786-7662.
Sen. Jesse Salomon
