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Fire District 3 seeks $9.6 million for wildfire mitigation; Medical Lake residents participated in CWPP meetings
Summary
Fire District 3 reported recent community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) meetings with strong local attendance and said the district applied for a $9.6 million federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant to fund fuels reduction, egress improvements and three full-time mitigation positions if awarded.
Fire District 3 officials told the Medical Lake City Council that community wildfire protection planning is moving forward and that the district has applied for a federal grant to expand mitigation work.
Terry Bunce, speaking for Fire District 3, said the district held several CWPP community meetings with strong Medical Lake resident turnout and that community input will shape the five-year mitigation priorities. "Of the 25 to 30 people, almost everybody was a Medical Lake resident," Bunce said, adding that the meetings highlighted local risk areas and opportunities for prevention and homeowner outreach.
The district submitted an application for a Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) seeking $9,600,000, Bunce said. If awarded, the funds would pay for mitigation and prevention across the district, including work on egress, overgrown fuel areas, and the potential addition of three full-time personnel to carry out projects the district’s response crews cannot.
Nut graf: The CWPP process and the pending federal grant represent the district’s attempt to move from community planning to funded mitigation work. Bunce said the grant, if successful, would enable large-acreage fuels reduction and staffing to do prevention work that regular emergency response crews cannot complete while handling daily calls.
Bunce also reported that Chief Orbach was testifying virtually on House Bill 1258, which the speaker said recently passed the state House and relates to 9-1-1 excise tax funding (as described in the meeting). Bunce said the bill’s amendment restored an allocation approach tying funds back to where they originated, and that, as a result, the district now supports the bill.
Council and staff questions focused on coordination after response: one council member asked how recovery and long-term rebuilding would be handed off after initial response and mitigation. Bunce and council members discussed potential collaboration with the Spokane Regional Long Term Recovery Group to plan recovery handoffs.
Bunce encouraged homeowners to sign up for home defensible-space consultations offered by the Department of Natural Resources and the district; the consultations are voluntary and provided to educate property owners, Bunce said.
Ending: The district expects to hear back on the federal grant application by summer (June or July), and staff and council members said they will continue coordination on CWPP priorities and potential recovery partnerships.
