Goldendale fire chief announces June 2 burn ban, cites improved insurance rating and new equipment grant

Fire Chief Manilla Hall told the Goldendale City Council that a citywide burn ban will take effect on June 2 and that the city’s WSRB (Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau) rating improved from a 6 to a 5 following recent reviews and work by volunteers and staff.

Hall said the improved rating could lead to lower fire-insurance premiums for some residents, and he credited volunteer hours, truck checks, mutual-aid agreements and improvements in the city’s permit and inspection practices for the change. He said the rating review also considered 9-1-1 dispatch performance.

Hall also reported the city received $21,638 from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) House Bill 1168 funding; the money will buy six portable radios and eight pagers for the fire department.

Council members and staff discussed the broader problem of wildfire risk and insurance. Hall said some homeowners in the city are receiving letters from insurers and losing coverage because of wildfire risk; he cited that the recent WSRB wildfire-capability review was the first year the bureau examined that dimension for Goldendale. He also noted that some properties in the flood plain need elevation certifications to avoid mandatory flood insurance.

Council members discussed fuel-break and mitigation work along the creek and Observatory Hill. A representative from the conservation district told the council the district has applied for federal funding to create fuel breaks and would coordinate with the city if awarded.

The burn ban and equipment purchases were announced as operational matters; no council vote was required to enact the burn ban notice. Council members said they will continue to coordinate with the conservation district and public-works staff on mitigation and fuel-break planning.