King County emergency management outlines wildfire, smoke and heat preparations, urges public to sign up for alerts

Emergency Management Director Bridal McCluskey briefed the King County Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee on May 20 on wildfire risk, smoke health impacts and extreme heat preparation as part of the executive's 200-day plan.

McCluskey said the county is developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan and running public outreach this spring and summer to reduce wildfire risk, improve evacuation communications and expand preparedness resources across jurisdictions.

The briefing matters because more than 352,000 King County residents live where forests and urban areas meet (the wildland-urban interface), the director said, and wildfire, smoke and heat risks have grown regionally. The county aims to align the CWPP with existing plans and coordinate with cities, tribes, fire agencies and state and federal partners.

"May is Wildfire Awareness Month and this is a timely presentation," McCluskey said. She told the committee the Community Wildfire Protection Plan will include a wildfire hazard map, recommended risk-reduction actions by area, implementation steps and tools residents can use to protect homes.

McCluskey framed the CWPP as one element of a…