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Skagit County proclaims May 2026 Wildfire Awareness Month after conservation district presentation
Summary
Commissioners proclaimed May 2026 as Wildfire Awareness Month following a presentation by Skagit Conservation District on wildfire risk reduction work and its coordination with state and federal partners.
The Skagit County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed May 2026 as Wildfire Awareness Month April 28 after a presentation from the Skagit Conservation District on local wildfire‑risk reduction efforts.
Robert Walters, community wildfire resilience specialist for the conservation district, summarized the district's voluntary risk‑reduction program and said staff completed a five‑year update to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and coordinated with Washington DNR to develop a GIS‑based planning tool. He listed recent accomplishments: 52 home ignition‑zone risk assessments, assistance to Firewise communities, nine Firewise USA renewals and 11 outreach events.
Walters thanked partners including the Washington State Conservation Commission, Puget Sound Energy and the DNR Wildfire Division. Emmett Veil, district manager, explained Title 3 funding (Secure Rural Schools) is federal funding routed to the county and then passed through an interlocal agreement to support conservation district programming; he said the district expects about $36,000 per year to support local technicians.
After the presentation, a commissioner read the resolution, moved adoption and the board voted aye to adopt the proclamation.
The district left contact information and offered to provide property risk assessments and technical assistance to residents who want help preparing their properties for wildfire.
