Wildfire Preparedness Day is Saturday, local volunteers work at Lake Alice

Volunteers will be clearing debris in a buffer between the communities of Lake Alice and Snoqualmie Ridge Saturday, as wildfire season gets under way in Washington. Saturday, May 2, is the state's second annual Wildfire Preparedness Day, supported by the National Fire Protection Agency and State Farm. All residents are encouraged to commit a couple of hours to improving their home or neighborhood safety with a wildfire preparedness project, such as the Lake Alice area cleanup.

April 29, 2015 2:55 pm
Volunteers load a chipper truck with underbrush and other debris at a cleanup event in 2014 at Lake Alice.
Volunteers load a chipper truck with underbrush and other debris at a cleanup event in 2014 at Lake Alice.

Volunteers will be clearing debris in a buffer between the communities of Lake Alice and Snoqualmie Ridge Saturday, as wildfire season gets under way in Washington. Saturday, May 2, is the state’s second annual Wildfire Preparedness Day, supported by the National Fire Protection Agency and State Farm. All residents are encouraged to commit a couple of hours to improving their home or neighborhood safety with a wildfire preparedness project, such as the Lake Alice area cleanup.

Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, at the corner of Southeast 76th Street and 334th Avenue Southeast in Fall City. A chipper truck will be available for six hours during the day, moving through the Lake Alice and Lake Alice West communities. Residents outside of the two communities may also to shuttle their own branches to the chipper.   Organizers especially encourage Snoqualmie residents to take part, since the fire risk is high there. Lack of snow and warmer temperatures suggest that this summer will be a volatile wildfire season.

State officials recognize April 15 as the official start of wildfire season, but this year, the Department of Natural Resources had already reported more than 60 forest fires on its lands by then.

Saturday, May 2, is the state’s second annual Wildfire Preparedness Day, supported by the National Fire Protection Agency and State Farm. All residents are encouraged to commit a couple of hours to improving their home or neighborhood safety with a wildfire preparedness project, such as the Lake Alice area cleanup.

Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, at the corner of Southeast 76th Street and 334th Avenue Southeast in Fall City. A chipper truck will be available for six hours during the day, moving through the Lake Alice and Lake Alice West communities. Residents outside of the two communities may also to shuttle their own branches to the chipper.   Organizers especially encourage Snoqualmie residents to take part, since the fire risk is high there. Lack of snow and warmer temperatures suggest that this summer will be a volatile wildfire season.

Residents can learn more about wildfire safety at the Firewise Leadership Conference Thursday, May 7 at Camp River Ranch in Carnation. Learn more or register for the conference at www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/forestry/forestfire.aspx.

For other ideas, information and safety checklists, visit http://firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness/be-firewise/project-ideas.aspx.