by Richard Uhlhorn
Chelan resident addresses council about fire danger:
Last night’s City Council meeting got off to a bang when Stan Morse rolled up to the microphone to speak during the Citizen Comment section.
Morse, a lifelong Chelan resident, has been before the council with his wildfire message a number of times and last night’s rant took on a more serious slant.
“My home insurance was cancelled,” he said. The reason stated was the danger of wildfire raging through the community. He said he was able to replace his home insurance from $1,200 to $2,500 and added that he was sure other homeowners were facing the same situation.
Morse brought up the devastating 2015 Chelan Complex that almost erased southeast Chelan from the community and took down warehouses at Chelan Fruit causing millions of dollars in damage. “That fire is going to come back and back again,” he stated.
His concern is the brush, woody debri and other burnable materials that clog the neighborhoods and could be the difference between an out of control wildfire or one that is containable.
As an example of the dangers, Morse brought up the Paradise Camp that killed 85 and burned 18,000 homes and the Medical Lake fire which destroyed homes and killed two.
He blamed the City for not helping cleanup burnable material within its jurisdiction. “The City has said it’s the Fire Department’s responsibility. It is not the Fire Department’s responsibility.”
That claim has been refuted by a city mayor who states it is up to the fire department to clean up burnable debris.
He added, “It’s different from when I was a kid,” said Morse. “Whether it’s climate change or something else, it is the reality we live with.”
Editor’s note:
Most of us remember the 2015 fire. Many new people have bought and moved to the Chelan area since that time without any context of how dangerous our wildfire situation can be. All it would take is a large wind event and fire to sweep through the area to wipe out many homes from Manson to Chelan and on the south shore just like the 2015 fires did.
The reality of Washington’s fire danger is this:
As of 2019, it was estimated that 951,000 homes sit near forests threatened by wildfire that includes a swath from Spokane southwest to the Columbia River and running north past Wenatchee into the Methow Valley. In all, 25 communities are exposed.
Since 2019, the number of threatened homes has grown as people from other areas move into eastern Washington to escape the overcrowded urban areas.
Free Yard Waste Disposal:
On April 20th (Earth Day,) and April 27, residents can dispose of vegetation to help reduce wildfire risk and decrease impacts to air quality from outdoor burning.
The Chelan Transfer Station will accept trees and limbs less than 8 feet long and 12 inches wide. Not accepted are rocks, plastic, bags, grass clippings, sod, root wads, and weeds.
This is an opportunity for home owners and the City to help reduce the risk.
This issue has been a long running one with Stan Morse and he should be thanked for keeping it in front of the City and Community.
Earth Day:
This year’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, will focus on wildfire dangers. Chelan Fire and Rescue, the Forest Service, Cascadia Conservation District along with students from Chelan High School’s Biology Class taught by April Slagle will be on hand to answer questions, handout information and warn people the need to reduce fire danger from around their homes.
Scott Beaton, one of the driving forces behind Chelan’s first Earth Day celebrations, has been the individual who has orchestrated this year’s Wildfire information.
One of the ideas behind bringing in the biology class is an opportunity to map the areas around the Valley that could contribute to a massive wildfire. “There are all kinds of ravines in the valley full of fuels that have never burned,” said Beaton. “We would like to map some of those areas.”
In addition, Beaton said the Forest Service came up with really good questions of which one was how Chelan residents view fire danger versus the agency. Beaton stated the 70% of homeowners surveyed felt they had done a good job of protecting their homes while only 28% of fire personnel agree.
This coming fire season is predicted to be one of the driest seasons in years and everyone is encouraged to be very careful.
All Things Lake Chelan 