Chelan County Fire District 3 details chipping, home assessments and five‑year fuels crew funded by federal grant

Chelan County Fire District 3 described expanded staffing, equipment and community programs that officials say aim to reduce structure loss and improve wildfire response.

Deputy Chief Mike Smith said the district purchased three new engines after the 2017 levy and has reconfigured equipment and staffing to operate in the wildland‑urban interface. “We currently have seven full‑time firefighting employees … In the summertime, we will build a fuels crew,” Smith said.

Smith highlighted programs offered to residents at no cost. The fire district conducts free home and property fire assessments and operates a community chipping program; the district bought its own chipper in 2021 and runs spring and drop‑off operations for residents who cannot burn on site. He said assessment reports are kept private and are not shared with insurers.

Smith said the district budgeted a two‑person fuels crew in 2024 and will staff a larger fuels team beginning in 2025 with a Community Wildfire Defense Grant that will fund positions for five years. The district’s stated near‑term goal is to implement fuels reduction across priority egress routes and private parcels and to maintain previously treated areas over time.

Smith also described pre‑attack and structure‑protection mapping used to triage response during incidents and said the district coordinates training and mobilization with state and regional partners. He urged property owners to use the district’s Firewise resources and to contact the district for assessments and program participation.